Mohammad Shahzad will be eligible to return on January 17, 2018
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
The International Cricket Council (ICC) handed Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad a retrospective one-year ban as he breached their Anti-Doping Code.
Shahzad’s suspension comes after he tested positive for Clenbuterol, which is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
However, an ICC statement said that Shahzad had “inadvertently ingested the prohibited substance, as a contaminant of a weight-loss product he was taking, Hydroxycut.”
The ICC also said that Shahzad had been banned from all forms of cricket for 12 months, but since it was applied retrospectively from January 17, 2017, it means the 29-year-old will be allowed to make his comeback on the same date next year.
“Mr Shahzad admitted the violation and a twelve-month suspension has been imposed, backdated to 17 January 2017, the date of his sample collection. Mr Shahzad will, therefore, be eligible to return to cricket on 17 January, 2018,” the statement said.
However, since Shahzad represented Afghanistan in 10 ODIs, seven Twenty20 Internationals and an Intercontinental Cup match between January and March this year, his records from those games will be expunged.
“In accordance with Article 10.8 of the Code, all individual results obtained by Mr Shahzad since the date of his sample collection (17 January 2017) until the date of his Provisional Suspension (26 April 2017) are disqualified with all of the resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any individual medals or other prizes awarded,” the ICC said.
Since tests confirmed that the Hydroxycut Shahzad was taking contained “small amounts” of Clenbuterol, the ICC accepted his explanation after he tested positive.
“In making the decision, the ICC accepted that Mr Shahzad had inadvertently ingested the prohibited substance, as a contaminant of a weight-loss product he was taking, Hydroxycut,” the ICC said. “Mr Shahzad was able to satisfy the ICC through evidence and submissions prepared on his behalf that he had no intention to enhance his sporting performance through the use of prohibited substances or to mask the use of another performance enhancing substance and had, instead, inadvertently ingested the prohibited substance after taking Hyrdoxycut supplements which were contaminated with Clenbuterol.”
ICC General Manager – Cricket, Geoff Allardice added: “Today’s announcement reinforces the ICC’s zero-tolerance approach to doping, and reminds all international cricketers that they remain personally responsible for ensuring that anything they eat, drink or put into their bodies does not result in an anti-doping rule violation.
“It further serves as a reminder to all international cricketers of the dangers and risks associated with taking supplements. Before thinking about taking a supplement, cricketers should weigh up the risks and dangers of doing so and should fully research the supplement in question so they can make an informed decision.”