Women’s sports advocate Paula Scanlan expressed her admiration for Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s No. 1 women’s tennis player, for supporting the World Tennis Association’s decision on biological men competing against women. Scanlan, who was a teammate of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, also gave her thoughts on Martina Navratilova’s perspective regarding Caitlin Clark’s neutral stance on the issue, describing it as a complete ‘bailout.’
In related sports news, former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios disclosed his provisional suspension from tennis following a positive test for cocaine. The 31-year-old Australian addressed the failed drug test, which occurred during the Mallorca Open in June, taking full responsibility for his significant error. Known for his controversial image, Kyrgios shared on Instagram the sense of helplessness and isolation he has experienced in recent years, primarily due to recurrent injuries keeping him off the tennis courts.
“I’m sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors, and everyone close to me,” wrote Kyrgios on his Instagram Story. “Above all, I’m sorry to the children who look up to me. I understand the poor example this sets, and I am deeply disappointed in myself.”
Kyrgios mentioned that his injuries over the past two years have affected him significantly, both physically and mentally. These challenges have made accepting the nearing end of his career more difficult than he had anticipated. He admitted, “I’ve always said tennis chose me, not the other way around, and letting go of something that’s been my entire life is incredibly challenging. At times, I’ve felt helpless and alone.”
Currently, Kyrgios risks facing a ban of up to four years for the violation, although a lesser punishment may be likely. British player Dan Evans faced a one-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine at the 2017 Barcelona Open.
Kyrgios has yet to appeal the provisional suspension, which was enforced on August 4. This comes after he criticized fellow tennis players Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek for their doping test failures in 2024. The International Tennis Integrity Agency stated that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, with confirmation of the positive result arriving on July 17, after an early exit from a Wimbledon doubles match.
Following a knee injury in October 2022, Kyrgios participated in only a single competitive match over the subsequent two years. He returned to play in 2025, finishing with a 1-4 record and appearing in just one Grand Slam event, where he was eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open. In December 2025, Kyrgios emerged victorious against four-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka in a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match in Dubai.