Somerset county backs ECB’s decision to hand Rehman three-month drugs ban – Cricket News Update
Disgraced Pakistan spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Abdur-Rehman-c41691’s English county Somerset has backed England and Wales Cricket Board’s decision to ban the left-arm orthodox bowler for taking prohibited substance ‘cannabis’.
Guy Lavender, Somerset CCC’s chief executive said that his club does not condone the use of illegal drugs and fully support the action taken by the ECB.
“Somerset County Cricket Club fully supports the action taken by the ECB,” said Lavender in an official statement. “The club does not condone the use of illegal drugs in any circumstances and all Somerset players are made fully aware of this policy on a regular basis,” he added further.
The 32-year-old Pakistan Test cricketer was tested for prohibited drugs during his short county championship stint with Somerset (August-September). The laboratory samples provided by the spinner after his Somerset debut against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nottinghamshire-c826 on August 8 confirmed the Adverse Analytical Finding for cannabis, which is a prohibited substance under World Anti-Doping Code as well as under the ECB’s Anti-Doping Rules.
Rehman picked up 27 wickets in four LV = County Championship games for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Worcestershire-c866 last month.
It was yesterday revealed by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749 and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that the recreational drug that had shown up on Rehman’s test was cannabis. Since the drug comes under the category of prohibited recreational substances and not performance enhancing, the bowler was handed a relatively light suspension of just twelve weeks, which could have been a minimum of two years otherwise. The sanctions imposed on him by the ECB will rule him out of all cricket until December 21, 2012.
The three-month suspension also brought to an end his hopes of representing domestic Twenty20 champions, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 on October 9.
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board has also banned the left-arm spinner from all cricket for an indefinite period, and has started a probe into the case.
Meanwhile, Rehman, who has taken 81 wickets in 17 Tests for his country, has also apologised for his actions and is looking forward to making a strong comeback to the international as well as domestic cricket after serving the three-month ban.
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