New Zealand fast bowler Doug Bracewell was banned for a month by the Sport Integrity Commission of New Zealand after he tested positive for the use of cocaine.
In a statement, the Sport Integrity Commission Te Kahu Raunui said that Bracewell tested positive for cocaine and its metabolite Benzoylecgonine (BZE) following a domestic T20 match for Central Districts against Wellington earlier this year in January. He was the Player of the Match in that game, picking up 2-21 with the ball besides scoring an unbeaten 30 off 11.
However, it was found that the substance abuse had come outside the tournament and was unrelated to the sport, resulting in him serving a reduced sentence. Bracewell incurred a one-month ban on April 11 this year instead of three on a precondition that he complete a treatment programme to address the substance use.
Bracewell has completed the treatment programme read the statement and is eligible to play the sport once again. He last played for New Zealand in March 2023 in a Test match against Sri Lanka in Wellington.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink said the board is "frustrated at this latest turn of events" but will continue to provide support for the pacer.
"NZC is committed to promoting safe and responsible behaviours and is frustrated at this latest turn of events. Doug accepts full responsibility for his error of judgement; the consequences of his behaviour, and the penalty imposed. As an organisation, we will continue to provide support for Doug – who is fully aware of our expectations moving forward.," Weenink said.
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Notably, this was not the first time Bracewell got himself in trouble, with several charges of drink and drive filed against him in the past.
The first one dates back to 2008, when Bracewell, aged 18, was fined 500 USD and disqualified from driving for six months for having a breath-alcohol reading of 877 mcg, more than twice the permitted level. In 2010, in a similar incident, he was sentenced to six months’ supervision and banned from driving for eight months.
The most recent one came in 2017 when he was sentenced to 100 hours of community work and banned from touching the wheels for 12 months. In his defence, the court was told Bracewell had to rush home from a function out of "genuine concern" for his partner after getting to know that their pet cockatoo had been eaten by dogs.
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