Zimbabwe ban duo for four months, third player charged, over drug use

NEW DELHI: Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has imposed a four-month ban on national players Wessly Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta for their involvement in usage of recreational drug. A third player is also facing a similar charge.

The suspension is somewhat lenient as the Zimbabwe national team has no scheduled fixtures during the banned period.

Additionally, Madhevere and Mavuta will face fines equivalent to half of their ZC salaries for the next three months.

"As they undergo rehabilitation overseen by ZC medical personnel, they have also been ordered to train under ZC’s High Performance programme," a ZC statement said on Thursday.

"The (Disciplinary) Committee also considered some mitigating factors, with both players showing remorse and having already started working on withdrawing from the habit and getting their systems clean."

The two players were found guilty of breaching the ZC Employment Code of Conduct following an in-house doping test in December.

Batter Kevin Kasuza, who has been suspended pending a hearing after he too tested positive for a banned recreational drug last week, could face a similar ruling.

(With inputs from Reuters)