New Zealand pacer Doug Bracewell admits using cocaine, serves one-month ban

New Zealand pacer Doug Bracewell served a backdated one-month suspension earlier this year for using cocaine. The pacer tested positive for the substance during an in-competition drug test in January this year in the domestic Super Smash tournament match between Wellington Firebirds and Central Stags.

Bracewell was provisionally suspended on April 11, 2023 after "admitted using cocaine but maintained that his use occurred out-of-competition, being prior to midnight on the day before the match, and that it was unrelated to sport performance."

The Sports Integrity Commission, however, didn't accept the part of the statement in which Bracewell claimed the use of cocaine was out-of-competition.

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A hearing was scheduled in December next month after the evidence was filed by both the parties. On November 11, however, a joint statement was filed before the tribunal "in which the Commission indicated that, having considered all the evidence filed in this proceeding, on balance, it accepted Mr Bracewell's position".

Subsequently, both parties "agreed that the appropriate sanction was a period of ineligibility of three months, which would be reduced to one month, as Mr Bracewell had satisfactorily completed a Substance of Abuse treatment programme approved by the Commission".

Bracewell, who has played 28 Tests, 21 ODIs and 20 T20Is for New Zealand, last played for the Blackcaps in a Test in 2023 against Sri Lanka.

The pacer, with 120 international wickets, decided to opt out of NZ's central contract this year and became a freelancer in global cricket leagues.

He is next expected to play in the Abu Dhabi T10 league for the New York Strikers before turning up in the SA20 next year for Joburg Super Kings.