Unsanctioned Highs: Famous Athletes Who Tested Positive For Drugs
2 Video Views·Aug 20, 2026
AI Generated·May contain errors
We often focus on athletes who've been caught with performance enhancing drugs,
but some sports stars have tested positive for recreational drugs.
Diego Maradona was banned from football for 15 months after testing positive for
cocaine in 1991. Later that year,
the soccer icon was given a 14 month suspended sentence after being caught in
possession of half a kilo of cocaine. American sprinter,
Sha'Carri Richardson tested positive for THC at the 2021
U.S. Olympic trials,
which saw her receive a one month ban and miss the Olympic games.
Tennis player Nick Kyrgios was suspended from tennis by the International Tennis
Integrity Agency after testing positive for cocaine in June,
2026. Two time NBA champion,
J.R. Smith tested positive for marijuana in 2013,
which saw him receive a five game ban. However,
NBA players no longer get suspensions for marijuana use.
UFC star Nick Diaz received multiple suspensions by the Nevada
Athletic Commission for testing positive for marijuana metabolites following
fights.

