Nick Kyrgios has been handed a suspended 16-week ban and $25,000 fine from the ATP Tour after an investigation into his abusive behavior in a tournament in Cincinnati last month.
The Australian player insulted a chair umpire and left the court to smash two rackets during a second-round loss at the Western & Southern Open, after which the ATP fined him $113,000 for committing a total of eight offenses.
The ATP looked into Kyrgios' actions and concluded that he "committed aggravated behavior under the Player Major Offense" provision.
"The investigation found a pattern of behavior related to Kyrgios' verbal abuse of officials and/or spectators in the past 12 months that constitutes a violation," the statement read, adding that Kyrgios has five working days to appeal the decision.
The sanctions will be applied only if he commits similar acts of bad behavior in the next six months. He must also agree to receive continued support from a "mental coach" while competing at events and getting additional help in the offseason from a specialist in behavioral management.
The conditions that Kyrgios must observe over the six-month period include no further code violations that result in a fine for verbal or physical abuse of officials, spectators or any other persons on court or on site, and no unsportsmanlike conduct directed toward an official, spectator or anyone else present during or after a match.
Kyrgios took to social media to respond to the decision, writing on his Instagram story: "Everyone. I can still play, I'm just on probational, relax, I'll be playing and tennis will still be fun, it's ok.
"I just have to keep a lid on my behaviour, that's all."
The ATP said it also looked into comments by Kyrgios, 24, at the US Open, where he said the ATP was "pretty corrupt," but determined the remarks did not constitute a "major offense" and hasn't applied further penalties.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.