Kusal Perera faces four-year ban after B sample tests positive

Sri Lanka wicketkeeper batsman Kusal Perera, who tested positive for a banned substance in early December, may face a lengthy ban from international cricket with his B sample understood to have also tested positive.

Perera had to be cut from Sri Lanka's tour to New Zealand after a random test conducted in October came out positive for a banned substance. He had the right to request analysis of a second sample, taken at the same time, but ESPNcricinfo learnt the results of the B sample matched his A sample.

The ICC is yet to comment on the matter considering it is an ongoing disciplinary process. Although no official penalty has been announced yet Perera can be suspended for a maximum of four years for the failed tests.

The ICC had served Kusal with a provisional suspension on December 7 after tests conducted on the A sample came out positive. According to the ICC's Anti-Doping Code, a player has 14 days to request a hearing before an independent three-person Anti-Doping Tribunal. Failing that, implies the player "shall have been deemed to have admitted that he/she has committed the anti-doping rule violation(s) specified in the Notice of Charge" and to have accepted the consequences specified in that Notice of Charge.

Sri lanka's sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera told reporters today that, "We are appealing against this because he was never found like this in the last four instances. We will back him with legal representation while doing every possible effort to help him to get out of this issue."

Neither the ICC nor SLC have confirmed what the banned substance is.