Pakistan all-rounder Nawaz sanctioned for breaching anti-doping code

Mohammad Nawaz has been sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after testing positive for a prohibited substance, the governing body said on Friday, with the Pakistan all-rounder being handed a three-month ban that can be reduced upon completion of a rehabilitation programme.

The 32-year-old tested positive for Carboxy-THC after Pakistan's Twenty20 World Cup match against the Netherlands in February.

Carboxy-THC is classified as a Substance of Abuse under the ICC's Anti-Doping Code.

Nawaz admitted the violation and demonstrated that the substance had been used out of competition in a manner unrelated to sporting performance, the ICC said.

The all-rounder was handed a three-month suspension, backdated to May 1, the date he started a voluntary provisional suspension.

The ICC said that after serving about two and a half months under the provisional suspension and agreeing to undergo rehabilitation, his provisional suspension had been lifted.

The governing body added that, in line with its anti-doping code, Nawaz’s records from the Netherlands match on February 7 and subsequent matches until May 1 have been disqualified.

Nawaz featured in all seven of Pakistan's matches at this year's men's T20 World Cup, from their opening game against the Netherlands through the Super Eights stage, where they were eliminated.

He scored 15 runs and took seven wickets in the tournament.