The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday suspended Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz for three months after he tested positive for a cannabis-related substance, with the ban eligible for reduction upon completion of a rehabilitation programme.
According to the ICC, the 32-year-old tested positive for Carboxy-THC — a metabolite of THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis — following Pakistan’s Twenty20 World Cup match against the Netherlands in February.
The governing body said Carboxy-THC is classified as a “Substance of Abuse” under the ICC Anti-Doping Code.
The ICC said Nawaz admitted the anti-doping rule violation and demonstrated that the substance had been used out of competition and was unrelated to sporting performance.
Nawaz was handed a three-month suspension, backdated to May 1, when he voluntarily began serving a provisional suspension.
The ICC added that, after serving around two and a half months under the provisional suspension and agreeing to participate in a rehabilitation programme, his provisional suspension had been lifted.