Australia’s top-ranked singles player Nick Kyrgios has taken a swipe at rival Fernando Verdasco after the latter’s two-month doping ban, continuing the pair’s long-running feud.
Verdasco accepted a two-month ban following a positive test for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) medication methylphenidate, which he had in his system at an ATP Challenger event in Rio de Janeiro last February.
The former world No. 7 had not renewed a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), while the International Tennis Integrity Agency said the Spaniard “did not intend to cheat”, but had nonetheless been issued with the ban under the game’s rules. Fernando Verdasco has since been granted a new TUE for the medication, but will now serve a suspension until January 8, 2023.
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Following Verdasco’s ban, Kyrgios reposted the news on Twitter, along with the caption: “Can’t say I’m surprised with this one”. Nick Kyrgios made it clear that he was not among the players who took Adderall, a medication for ADHD that has a performance-enhancing effect.
Can’t say I’m surprised with this one https://t.co/eh74Gt8hl4
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) November 30, 2022
The Australian reacted to journalist Ben Rothenberg’s tweet saying “LOL, not me” which sourced an anonymous ATP player claiming that “half of the Top 100 or maybe more” use the stimulant drug, which is a combination of amphetamine salts, but not for its intended purpose.
Re: adderall in tennis, one ATP player told me today he estimates “half of top 100 is on it…maybe more.” And not because they have trouble focusing while doing their homework.
Lots of cynicism about the TUE system within the locker room. https://t.co/Y3di7gP4dk
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) November 30, 2022
The news regarding Nick’s standing brought major attention as the Aussie is no stranger to making controversial headlines, be it on-court or his stance on various issues surrounding players in the ATP Tour.
Nick Kyrgios’ take on players smoking weed on tour
Nick Kyrgios, when asked by one of his Twitter followers: “are you allowed to smoke weed on tour?” offered up a simple “yep” as an answer confirming his take on players smoking marijuana while on tour and not performing on-court.
yep
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 30, 2016
And he is correct, with a Wada spokesman confirming that while marijuana “is a prohibited substance for in-competition testing, it has never been prohibited out-of-competition”. In effect, that means players are permitted to smoke marijuana while not competing at tournaments.
During the same snap, two-minute Q&A, Kyrgios also teased that he would walk away from tennis, at just 21 if he won the US Open on Sunday week. “If I won the US Open now, u would never see me again,” he replied to a fan ahead of his match against British No. 3 Aljaz Bedene.
if I won the US open now u would never see me again
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 30, 2016
Kyrgios’ latest endeavor ended with a huge success after the 27-year-old made his way into his first-ever Grand Slam singles final, Wimbledon 2022, where he would eventually lose to Serbian star Novak Djokovic in the championship round.