Pakistan star suspended after failing dope test during T20 World Cup | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Pakistan star all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz was suspended for three months after failing a dope 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” unrelated to performance enhancement in the game.However, Nawaz’s suspension will be reduced by one month if he completes a substance abuse treatment program. His period of ineligibility was backdated to May 1, the date he began a voluntary provisional suspension.

ICC on Nawaz

The ICC said in a statement: “Pakistan spin-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has accepted a three-month period of ineligibility (which will be reduced to one month after a substance abuse treatment program) for violating the ICC Anti-Doping Code.”The governing body added: “Subject to Nawaz completing a substance abuse rehabilitation program to the satisfaction of the ICC, Nawaz will not have to serve the remainder of the three-month period of ineligibility.”

Tested positive for cannabis metabolites

The 32-year-old tested positive for Carboxy-THC, an inactive metabolite produced by the liver after consuming cannabis. He was subjected to a dope test after Pakistan’s T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7.The tournament is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan playing its matches in Sri Lanka under an agreement with the ICC.

Nawaz admitted the guilt

The ICC said Nawaz accepted the charge and confirmed that the substance was taken out of competition and had no connection to his performance enhancement.“Nawaz admitted the offense and showed that the substance was used out of competition, in a way that had nothing to do with sports performance,” the world body said.After accepting the punishment and agreeing to undergo rehabilitation, Nawaz’s temporary suspension was lifted, having served two and a half months.

Match records are disqualified

Under 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.