default or selected kernelversion does not have config value CONFIG_ATH9K_DEBUG.
Result is shown for kernelversion 5.4.159

Atheros ath9k debugging

configname: CONFIG_ATH9K_DEBUG

Linux Kernel Configuration
└─>Device Drivers
└─>Network device support
└─>Wireless LAN
└─>Atheros Wireless Cards
└─>Atheros ath9k debugging
In linux kernel since version 2.6.29 (release Date: 2009-03-23)  
Say Y, if you need ath9k to display debug messages.
Pass the debug mask as a module parameter:

modprobe ath9k debug=0x00000200

Look in ath9k/debug.h for possible debug masks