Mohammad Nawaz sanctioned for anti-doping violation after T20 World Cup test

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz was handed a three-month ban for breaching the ICC Anti-Doping Code after testing positive for a prohibited substance during the men's T20 World Cup earlier this year, although the sanction has effectively been served following a reduced period of ineligibility.

The ICC said Nawaz tested positive for Carboxy-THC, classified as a Substance of Abuse under its Anti-Doping Code, following Pakistan's T20 World Cup fixture against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7. The 32-year-old admitted the violation and established that the substance had been consumed out of competition and was unrelated to enhancing sporting performance.

His period of ineligibility, backdated to May 1 when he voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension, was reduced from three months to one month after he committed to completing an ICC-approved substance of abuse treatment programme.

Having already spent two and a half months under provisional suspension, Nawaz's suspension has now been lifted. Subject to successfully completing the treatment programme, he will not be required to serve any further period of ineligibility.

Under the ICC Anti-Doping Code, Nawaz's individual records from Pakistan's match against Netherlands on February 7, along with those from any subsequent matches until the commencement of his provisional suspension on May 1, have been disqualified.