Johannesburg [South Africa], Feb. 1 : West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has been handed over a one-year ban from playing all forms of cricket for a doping whereabouts rule violation.
Russell did not file his whereabouts on three occasions in 2015 as required, which constitutes a failed drugs test under the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Russell's punishment was handed down by the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission on Tuesday. "We are devastated for Andre," Sport quoted his Australian Twenty20 franchise Sydney Thunder general manager Nick Cummins in confirming the outcome.
"We haven't seen the written judgment, but given the circumstances surrounding the filing failures we thought he had a good chance of being exonerated.
We will monitor the appeals process and assess our options," he added. It is mentioned under the WADA's whereabouts rules that elite athletes must supply details of where they will be for one hour each day to facilitate drug tests.
The 28-year-old played the first five games of the Big Bash League (BBL) this year before withdrawing due to injury.
Mike Hussey, cricket director of Sydney Thunder, said he felt for Russell, adding that the latter has been going through a really tough time of late.
"I want him to go away and get better physically but also mentally," Hussey said. His ban also means that he will also miss his Indian Premier League (IPL) stint with Kolkata Knight Riders.
Source: ANI
