Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

England's Alex Hales banned for recreational drug use

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Friday, 26 April 2019 08:51

England batsman Alex Hales has failed a drugs test. Hales, who was named in England's provisional 15-man World Cup squad last week, is understood by ESPNcricinfo to have tested positive for a recreational drug in recent weeks. The England selectors are not thought to have known about the test result at the time the squad was announced.

According to a report in the Guardian, he is currently serving a 21-day ban after returning a second positive test, having pulled out of Nottinghamshire's Royal London Cup campaign, shortly after the World Cup squad was announced, for undisclosed personal reasons.

The drugs violation is understood to have been detected after Hales underwent a routine hair follicle test, which all professional men's cricketers and centrally-contracted women's players undergo at the start and finish of every season. The policy was introduced in 2013 in the wake of the death of Surrey's Tom Maynard, and can detect banned substances in the system for up to three months.

For a first offence, which is treated as a health and welfare issue, players are offered advice and support with only the county director of cricket being notified.

A second violation can invoke a three-week ban and a 5 percent fine of the player's annual salary, at which point the player's county is informed, as well as the ECB chief executive, Tom Harrison, and PCA chief executive, David Leatherdale.

A third offence, such as that committed by Durham's Jack Burnham in 2017, can lead to dismissal - although in Burnham's case, the club chose instead to ban him for 12 months and give him the chance to revive his career this year.

It is nevertheless another significant black mark for Hales, who was recently banned for six white-ball games (four of them suspended) and fined £17,500 by the ECB for his part in the Bristol brawl that led to Ben Stokes' arrest and subsequent acquittal. England are not obliged to name their final World Cup squad until May 23.

Although the loss of Hales at the World Cup would be significant, as things stand he would have served his suspension. He is still expected to join up with the squad for their training camp in Cardiff at the weekend.

While he is not currently seen as part of the first-choice side, he was set to be the reserve batsman in the squad. He has an outstanding ODI record: only nine men have scored more than his six ODI hundreds for England; only Jason Roy has a higher individual score in the format than the 171 Hales made against Pakistan. With Roy (back spasm) having recently experienced some fitness concerns, there was every chance he would win an opportunity at some stage during the tournament.

Ashley Giles, the England's men's team director, Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, and the ECB all declined to comment when contacted by ESPNcricinfo.

Read 2888 times

Soccer

Sources: Tuchel hires Hilario as England GK coach

Sources: Tuchel hires Hilario as England GK coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThomas Tuchel is set to add Chelsea goalkeeping coach Hilario to hi...

Son lauds Palestine spirit as example to follow

Son lauds Palestine spirit as example to follow

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTottenham captain Son Heung-Min praised the spirit showed by Palest...

Sheeran aids Ipswich transfer pre-Taylor Swift gig

Sheeran aids Ipswich transfer pre-Taylor Swift gig

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIpswich Town have revealed that pop star and minor shareholder Ed S...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Jenkins becomes Grizzlies' winningest coach

Jenkins becomes Grizzlies' winningest coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Taylor Jenkins has moved to the top of the Memphi...

Warriors' Melton to have season-ending surgery

Warriors' Melton to have season-ending surgery

EmailPrintGolden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton will undergo surgery on his left ACL and mis...

Baseball

Is Aaron Judge the best pure home run hitter of all time?

Is Aaron Judge the best pure home run hitter of all time?

EmailOpen Extended ReactionsRemember Aaron Judge? The guy who hit 58 home runs? Had the highest sing...

Sources: New bill seeks to protect minor leaguers

Sources: New bill seeks to protect minor leaguers

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSen. Dick Durbin plans to introduce the Fair Ball Act, a bill that...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated