ECB Bans Former New Zealand Pacer After Second Cocaine Test

Doug Bracewell a former New Zealand fast bowler received a two-year county cricket ban after his second positive cocaine test. The England and Wales Cricket Board's Cricket Regulator made the decision.

The incident occurred during a County Championship match which took place in September. The player received punishment because he confessed to using the banned substance before the game.

Positive test during county match

The sample was collected on September 25 during a match between Essex County Cricket Club and Somerset County Cricket Club in Chelmsford. The World Anti-Doping Agency approved lab tests confirmed the presence of cocaine and its by-product.

Bracewell did not have any permission to use the substance. He later confirmed that he had used cocaine during the night before and early morning of the match day. This action constituted an anti-doping rules violation.

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Two-year ban and rule violation

The charge was brought under the ECB’s anti-doping rules for both having and using a banned substance. According to the Cricket Regulator the athlete used drugs which did not enhance his performance but they still fell under "substances of abuse" classification.

The rules state that Bracewell must serve a two-year suspension. He accepted the punishment, so no formal hearing was needed.

The ban started from November 24, when his provisional suspension began. The ban will remain in effect until November 23, 2027. The organization nullified all his match results that happened between the test date and the start of his suspension.

Retirement but ban still active

Bracewell had already retired from all forms of cricket in December. He played 69 international matches for New Zealand between 2011 and 2023.

The ban continues to be in effect even though he retired from cricket. The ban prevents him from participating in any cricket activities which the ECB and WADA related organizations have during the ban period.

No action has been taken against Essex, the county team he was playing for at the time.