West Indies star Andre Russell given one-year ban for doping-code violation
Tuesday 31 January 2017 21:49, UK
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has been banned for one year, effective immediately, for a doping whereabouts rule violation.
The two-times Twenty20 World Cup winner was revealed to have committed the violation 11 months ago after registering three filing failures in 2015. That constitutes a failed drugs test under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
"Mr Russell was found guilty of a doping violation," Hugh Faulkner, chairman of the independent anti-doping tribunal that handed out the punishment, said in a statement.
The 28-year-old Jamaican, who helped the West Indies win their second World T20 title in 2016, will be banned for a year from January 31.
WADA rules state that athletes across all sports must inform their local anti-doping agencies where they will be for at least one hour each day to facilitate drug tests.
Russell's lawyer has confirmed the development and said he would discuss all options with his client including appealing the ban.
