The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended South African batsman Zubair Hamza for nine months after he admitted to taking heart medication after he accidentally ate it.
Hamza, 26, told the ICC that he thought he was taking his own medicine but had taken his father’s heart tablet instead.
Hamza’s ban was suspended on March 22, the day he was banned from having the diuretic furosemide in his system.
On January 17, he was declared ineligible for a positive test in a non-competitive test in South Africa, and his records were declared ineligible by March 22, the ICC said.
At that time he played a Test against New Zealand and scored 25 and 6 runs.
Hamza has admitted to the violation, according to the South African Cricket Association.
“I did not intentionally take the prohibited substance and I am relieved that the ICC resolution has confirmed this fact,” Hamza said.
“The last few months have been difficult for me on a personal and professional level, and I have learned lessons that I will share with my fellow players.”
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Hamza has played six Tests and one ODI for South Africa. He will be eligible to play again on December 22.
Alex Marshall, general manager of the ICC Integrity Unit, said the case was “a timely reminder to all international cricketers that they are responsible for whatever they put on their bodies, to make sure they are taking exactly what drugs they do not contain.”
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