Cricketer to face ACB Anti-Doping Committee

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today announced that New South Wales (NSW) Blues batsman Graeme Rummans had tested positive for the masking agent probenecid.

The ACB said that on Monday 18 February it received formal notification from the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) that both the A and B samples taken from Rummans before a NSW Blues training session in December 2001 had proved positive to the drug.

In accordance with the ACB Anti-Doping Policy, approved by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), the matter has been referred to the ACB Anti-Doping Committee, which will hear the matter at the ACB's offices in Melbourne on Thursday 28 February 2002.

If Rummans is found to have committed a doping offence for the use of a masking agent, the prescribed penalty under the ACB Anti-Doping Policy is a two-year ban from competing in any international or interstate cricket, as well as any other event or competition conducted under the auspices of the ACB or a state cricket association.

However, the Committee may reduce the two-year penalty on the basis of evidence provided by the ACB Anti-Doping Medical Adviser, Dr Peter Harcourt.

The Committee will comprise Justice William Gillard of the Supreme Court of Victoria (Chairman), Dr Susan White, a member of the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee and former Australian fast bowler Alan Hurst.

ACB Chief Executive, James Sutherland, said that it would be inappropriate for the ACB to speculate on the details of the case.

"The facts are that Graham Rummans has tested positive to probenecid and that the circumstances surrounding this result and the imposition of any penalty will be determined by the ACB Anti-Doping Committee on Thursday 28 February," said Mr Sutherland.

"It would be inappropriate for the ACB to speculate on what may or may not have occurred before the Anti-Doping Committee has had the opportunity to hear all of the available evidence and make its determination."

Rummans has advised the ACB that he will contest the case.

Given the circumstances, the ACB has directed Cricket New South Wales not to select Rummans for this Sunday's ING Cup final in Brisbane or any other games before the determination of the case. Rummans will receive full match payments pending the outcome of the hearing.

Since season 2000-01, the ACB, in consultation with ASDA, has reviewed and improved its drug testing and education program.

The results of this review saw the ACB increase its total investment in anti-doping education and drug testing by 44 per cent this season. This includes an 18 per cent rise in the number of tests - 66 in season 2001-02.