Piper banned after doping offence

Keith Piper, the Warwickshire wicketkeeper, has been ruled out of the remainder of the current English season after failing a drugs test. On May 12, Piper pleaded guilty to a doping offence involving cannabis, and on Thursday an ECB disciplinary panel banned him until September 30, five days after the current English season is due to end.

A statement issued by the ECB said the panel had ruled that Piper, already serving an interim ban, "be suspended from involvement in all cricket under the jurisdiction of the ECB until September 30, 2005." The panel added that if Piper, 35, wanted to return to county cricket he should also undergo drug counselling and undertake a drug test before September 30, which would be administered under the auspices of the ECB. The panel also added that Piper would "thereafter be target-tested six times in the following 18 months". Piper, who had been playing mainly one-day cricket of late, was ordered to pay £250 (US$455) towards the costs of the hearing.

In 1997 Piper had failed an in-house drugs test for which he served a one-match ban. His fellow Warwickshire players Paul Smith, now retired, and Graham Wagg have also served drugs-related bans. Last season Wagg was given a 15-month ban by the ECB after testing positive for cocaine and, as a consequence, saw Warwickshire terminate his contract. On Sunday, Piper's former Warwickshire captain Dermot Reeve, the retired England international, admitted that he was fighting cocaine addiction.

Warwickshire's chief executive Dennis Amiss said: "We feel that Keith Piper's punishment is appropriate and that it sends out the right message to current and future players. While it is dangerous to draw distinctions between types of drug misuse, and certainly not excusing it, the club considers that Keith's offence is at the lowest level. However, Keith's positive test for use of a recreational drug lets down both the county and the game.

"We will now work with the ECB and the Professional Cricketers' Association to support Keith through what will be a very difficult period. In time we hope that Keith can continue giving to the game and we will be discussing the career options that are open to him.

"Keith is developing his skills as a coach and while his positive test is a major setback, should he still wish to further his career in this area, the club feel it is appropriate to offer him whatever support and rehabilitation he requires."