Pakistan star suspended after failing doping test during T20 World Cup | Cricket news

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s star all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz was suspended 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 “substance abuse” unrelated to performance enhancement.However, Nawaz’s suspension will be reduced to one month if he successfully completes a drug addiction treatment program. His period of ineligibility is backdated to May 1, the date the voluntary interim suspension began.

ICC on Nawaz

The ICC said in a statement: “Pakistani all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has accepted a three-month ban (which will be reduced to one month upon completion of a substance abuse treatment programme) for breaching the ICC Anti-Doping Code.”The governing body added: “Provided Nawaz completes a substance abuse rehabilitation program to the ICC’s satisfaction, Nawaz will not have to serve the remainder of the three-month ineligibility period.”

The test is 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 was subjected to a doping test after Pakistan’s T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7.The tournament was jointly organized by India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan playing its matches in Sri Lanka under an agreement with the ICC.

Nawaz admitted the offence

The ICC said Nawaz accepted the charge and proved the substance was taken out of competition and had nothing to do with improving his performance.“Nawaz admitted the offense and showed that the substance was used out of competition, in a way unrelated to sporting results,” the world body said.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 disqualified

According to the ICC Anti-Doping Code, Nawaz’s records from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands on February 7 and all subsequent matches till May 1 have been disqualified.