England women's captain Heather Knight has been handed a suspended fine by the Cricket Discipline Commission after she was charged over a photo of herself in blackface that was posted on social media in 2012.
Knight was charged last month with a breach of ECB Directive 3.3, which stated at the time of the offence: "No such person may conduct himself in a manner or do any act or omission which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the game of cricket or any Cricketer or group into disrepute."
It was reported that at a 'sports stars' themed party in 2012, Knight appeared in a photo in fancy dress with blackface. The Cricket Regulator submitted that the photo was accessible on the Facebook account of a third party. It is unclear if the photo was or remains accessible to the general public, or if access was, or still is, restricted only to the connections of the third party individual.
Knight admitted the breach of the regulations, although it was accepted that Knight did not post the photograph on her own social media platforms, had no power to delete the photo and had no power to control whether the photo was posted in the first place or whether it might be posted in the future.
The CDC adjudicator Tim O'Gorman issued Knight with a reprimand and a fine of £1000, which will be suspended for two years.
In a statement following the ruling, Knight said in a statement released on the ECB's website: "I'm truly sorry for the mistake I made in 2012. It was wrong, and I have long regretted it. Back then, I simply was not educated as to the implications and consequences of my actions as I have become since. There was no ill-intent meant. Whilst I can't change the past, i am passionate and committed to using my platform to promote inclusivity across the game ensuring underrepresented groups are afforded the same opportunities and fulfillment within the game as I have.
Knight first played for England in 2011, a year before the photo was posted, and was appointed England captain in 2016.
Richard Gould, ECB chief executive said in a statement: "Heather recognises this was a serious error of judgement which took place more than 10 years ago, and has rightly apologised. As a public figure and leader, Heather has worked tirelessly to foster a more inclusive and equitable future for cricket. She has championed initiatives to promote diversity and strongly advocated for marginalised communities. She has shown herself to be a positive role model.
“While we cannot change the past, we can certainly learn from it. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing work to combat racism and discrimination. We remain committed to fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity, and belonging for all.”
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