NEWS
Follow UsNew Zealand’s seam-bowling all-rounder Doug Bracewell has been suspended for one month by the internal Sports Tribunal in the country for the use of cocaine. The suspension was backdated to April 2024 and has already been served.
As per ESPNCricinfo, Bracewell “was provisionally suspended without opposition” in April as an in-competition test during the Super Smash tournament returned an ‘adverse analytical finding.’ The test was conducted on January 13 during the Super Smash fixture between Wellington Firebirds and Central Stags in Wellington, in which Bracewell was the Player of the Match for his all-round performance – 2/21 in his four overs and 30* (11) with the bat.
A statement released by the tribunal mentions that “Bracewell admitted using cocaine but maintained that his use occurred out-of-competition, being prior to midnight on the day before the match and that it was unrelated to sport performance”. The Sports Integrity Commission didn’t accept that and believed “the use must have occurred in-competition.”
On November 11, the "counsel filed a joint memorandum in which the Commission indicated that, having considered all the evidence filed in this proceeding, it accepted Mr Bracewell's position". Consequently, they "agreed that the appropriate sanction was a period of ineligibility of three months, which would be reduced to one month, as Mr Bracewell had satisfactorily completed a Substance of Abuse treatment programme approved by the Commission."
Bracewell, 34, made his international debut in 2011 and has played 28 Tests, 21 ODIs and 20 ODIs for New Zealand. His last international appearance was in the Wellington Test against Sri Lanka in March 2023.
Bracewell recently opted out of central cricket with the Central Districts to become a freelancer and is currently contracted with the New York Strikers in the Abu Dhabi T10 league and Joburg Super Kings in SA20.
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