Hampshire bowler Keith Barker has received a 12-month ban from the National Anti-Doping Panel after he tested positive for a prohibited substance in July last year.
Barker hasn't represented Hampshire since June last year, and there has been little information on the reason for his absence. In a statement published by the Cricket Regulator today (April 16), it was revealed that Barker had tested positive for Indapamide – a type of diuretic – in July 2024 and was provisionally suspended by the Cricket Regulator at that time. He was subsequently formally charged in October last year with two anti-doping rule violations under the ECB Anti-Doping Rules.
Why has Keith Barker been banned?
The 12 month ban, which was imposed following a hearing on March 5 of this year, has been backdated to July 2024, meaning Barker will be eligible to play cricket again from July 4 of this year. Barker admitted the charges against him and the panel accepted that Barker "had no intention to breach the Anti-Doping Rules".
This has seamed an absolute mile from Hampshire's Keith Barker.#CountyCricket2022 pic.twitter.com/TJZrQRbT38
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 7, 2022
The report from the case specifies that UK Anti-Doping [UKAD] collected a urine sample from Baker on May 22, 2024 which tested positive for Indapamide, which is listed under section five of the 2024 WADA [World Anti-Doping Association] Prohibited List as a "Diuretic and Masking Agent". Ipadamide is not a performance enhancing substance in itself, but can be used as an agent to mask performance enhancing drugs. There is no suggestion Barker used it for this purpose.
Having been provisionally suspended, Barker made an application to UKAD for a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption [TUE] for Indapamide, which was rejected. While Barker admitted all charges against him, he provided submissions in mitigation of his sanction, on the basis of using a drug prescribed by his doctor, and that he "was not informed, despite checking with them [his doctors], that it [the medication] was a prohibited substance".
Barker: Hope for a renewed sense of vigilance around anti-doping procedures
A statement from Hampshire CCC confirmed that Barker would return to competitive cricket following the completion of his ban in July.
Barker said: “Over the last nine months I have been part of a very tense, gruelling process leading to the results of my hearing. Having been forced to step away from my career and the sport I have loved since I was a young child due to a genuine administrative error has been mentally taxing and left me fearing for the loss of my career that is very dear to me.
“I’d like to thank the support of the PCA, all the professionals involved in working on my case, Hampshire Cricket and family and friends for helping me get through this difficult time.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to playing the game that I love. My hope is for any young professionals to look at my case with a renewed sense of vigilance around medication and anti-doping procedures in professional sport.”
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
