Nick Kyrgios has been given a suspended 16-week ban from the ATP Tour following the conclusion of an investigation into his explosive second-round loss at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati last month.
The Australian was handed a record fine of $113,000 (approximately €103,000) after committing eight offences during his match with Karen Khachanov, including verbally abusing Irish umpire Fergus Murphy and spitting towards the official.
The ban, along with a further fine of $25,000 (approximately €23,000), will kick in if Kyrgios commits a similar offence within a six-month period, while he must also agree to continued support from a mental coach during tournaments and seek extra help from a specialist in behavioural management before the end of the year.
Kyrgios was charged with having committed aggravated behaviour under the player major offence provision in the ATP code, and an investigation by Gayle David Bradshaw, the tour's executive vice-president, rules and competition, concluded that was proven.
An ATP statement read: "The investigation found a pattern of behaviour related to Kyrgios's verbal abuse of officials and/or spectators in the past 12 months that constitutes a violation."
The six-month period will begin the Monday after Kyrgios accepts the ruling. The 24-year-old, ranked 27, has five working days in which to lodge an appeal should he wish to do so.
