New Delhi: Pakistan star Mohammad Nawaz has been banned for three months after failing a doping test during the T20 World Cup earlier this year. The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the decision on Friday, saying the positive test was linked to a “substance of abuse” that has nothing to do with improving sporting performance.However, Nawaz’s suspension will be reduced to one month if he successfully completes his drug treatment programme. His period of ineligibility was retroactive to May 1, the date the voluntary suspension began.
International Criminal Court on Nawaz
“Pakistan bowler Mohammad Nawaz has accepted a three-month period of disqualification (which will be reduced to one month upon completion of his drug treatment programme) for violating the ICC Anti-Doping Code,” the ICC said in a statement.“Provided that Nawaz completes a drug rehabilitation program to the satisfaction of the ICC, Nawaz will not be required to serve the remainder of the three-month ineligibility period,” the governing body added.
He tested positive for a cannabis metabolite
The 32-year-old tested positive for Carboxy-THC, an inactive metabolite produced in the liver after consuming cannabis. He underwent a doping test after Pakistan’s T20 World Cup match against Netherlands in Colombo on February 7.
The tournament was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan playing its matches in Sri Lanka under an agreement with the ICC.
Nawaz confessed to the crime
The ICC said Nawaz accepted the charge and proved that the substance was taken out of competition and had no connection to enhancing his performance.The international organization said: “Nawaz admitted to committing the crime and proved that the substance was used outside of competition, in a way that was not related to sports performance.”After accepting the sentence and agreeing to undergo rehabilitation, Nawaz’s temporary suspension was lifted, after he had already served two and a half months.
Match records are not eligible
Under the ICC Anti-Doping Code, Nawaz’s records were disqualified from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup match against Netherlands on February 7 and all subsequent matches up to May 1.