Afghan cricketer suspended for 12 months for doping

Published Dec. 7, 2017 7:50 a.m. ET

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad was suspended for 12 months on Thursday for using a weight loss product which contained a banned substance.

Shahzad can return to playing on Jan. 17. The ban was backdated to Jan. 17 this year, when his urine sample was collected in an out-of-competition test in Dubai.

The test was positive for the non-specified substance clenbuterol.

The International Cricket Council said it accepted Shahzad ''inadvertently ingested the prohibited substance, as a contaminant of a weight loss product he was taking, Hydroxycut.''

The ICC added it was satisfied Shahzad wasn't trying to enhance performance.

Shahzad has 1,901 runs in 58 one-day internationals, and 1,779 runs in 58 Twenty20s for Afghanistan.