Evans was barred from playing professional tennis in April 2017 after testing positive for cocaine. He had been suspended by the ATP in October 2016 for repeated violations of anti-doping rules. In March 2015, Evans was given a one-year ban by the ATP after testing positive for cocaine twice within 12 months. The first violation occurred in January 2015 when he tested positive at the Australian Open. His return match was cancelled due to injury. The second violation occurred two months later at the Miami Masters when he again tested positive. This time he failed to show up for his suspension and did not respond to multiple messages from the ATP requesting an explanation for his absence. As a result, his one-year suspension was extended by another year. When asked about his absence, Evans said that he was suffering from severe anxiety and depression and was seeking treatment. He also stated that he made a "mistake" by using cocaine and that he wants to get back into the sport as soon as possible. However, several other players have returned from similar suspensions and still remain banned. So, it is unclear if this will affect his ability to play professional tennis again.