Proteas Hamza

South Africa’s Zubayr Hamza. Photo: AFP

Proteas batsman Hamza responds to ‘doping’ violation, thanks ICC!

Zubayr Hamza has thanked the ICC for the manner in which they handled his ‘doping’ violation after receiving a nine-month suspension.

Proteas Hamza

South Africa’s Zubayr Hamza. Photo: AFP

On Tuesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that Proteas batsman Zubayr Hamza has been suspended from all cricket-related activities for nine months after admitting to an anti-doping rule violation under the ICC Anti-Doping Code.

Hamza provided an out-of-competition sample on 17 January 2022 in Paarl, South Africa, in which the prohibited substance Furosemide – which is a specified substance in Section S5 of the 2022 WADA Prohibited List – was found.

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He admitted the violation and, having established no significant fault or negligence on his part, a nine-month period of ineligibility has been imposed, backdated to 22 March 2022, the date that Hamza accepted a provisional suspension. The effect of this suspension is that Hamza will be eligible to return to cricket on 22 December 2022.

In addition, all of Hamza’s individual performances between 17 January and 22 March 2022 have been disqualified.

Responding to the news, Hamza shared his thoughts on the South African Cricketers’ Association website.

“I wish to thank the ICC for the professional manner in which they managed this process.  I have never intentionally taken a prohibited substance and I am relieved that the ICC determination confirms this fact.  The past few months have been difficult for me on a personal and professional level, and I have learnt lessons that I will share with my fellow players.

“I would like to thank Cricket South Africa and Western Province for their support during this time.  I would also like to thank my attorney, Barend Kellerman, for his expertise in navigating this process, and SACA for their comprehensive support during what has been a difficult time for me.”

Andrew Breetzke, SACA CEO, said that Hamza had “co-operated with the ICC on providing full disclosure of medications that he had been taking, and the sequence of events leading up to the positive test”.

“Through this process, we were able to determine how Furosemide came to be in his sample.”

Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager – Integrity Unit said: “The ICC is committed to keeping cricket clean and has a zero-tolerance approach to doping. It is also a timely reminder to all international cricketers that they remain responsible for anything they put into their bodies, to know exactly what medication they are taking so as to ensure it does not contain a prohibited substance and does not result in an anti-doping rule violation.”

A full reasoned decision is available here.

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