Graeme Rummans suspended by ACB Anti-Doping Committee

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Anti-Doping Committee last night fined New South Wales (NSW) Blues batsman Graeme Rummans $2000 and suspended him from all forms of cricket for one month, effective from Sunday 24 February 2002.

Rummans, who tested positive for the masking agent probenecid in December 2001, appeared before the three-person committee of 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.

The prescribed two-year ban for a doping offence was reduced to one month after the Committee heard expert testimony from ACB Anti-Doping Medical Adviser Dr Peter Harcourt on the administration of the drug and the potential benefits it would have offered Rummans.

During the seven-hour hearing the Committee heard evidence from Rummans about the reasons for him taking the substance.

ACB Chief Executive James Sutherland said the Committee took several factors into account when handing down its decision.

"It is clear that Graeme took probenecid in contravention of the ACB Anti-Doping Policy," Mr Sutherland said.

"It is also apparent that there are mitigating circumstances surrounding its administration and the Committee has taken these into account in determining the penalty.

"The Committee has taken into account that Graeme was not seeking an unfair advantage in taking this drug. All elite cricketers have the responsibility under the ACB Anti-Doping Policy, the ACB Anti-Doping Education Programs and their player contracts to be accountable for any medication they may be taking.

"No sport would be pleased with the knowledge that one of its players has been found guilty of this type of offence, but I am re-assured by the facts that the issue was identified and dealt with in an appropriate manner and was not done to gain an unfair advantage," he said.

The Rummans case was brought to the ACB's attention on Monday 18 February when 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 probenecid.

In accordance with the ACB Anti-Doping Policy, approved by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), the matter was referred to the ACB Anti-Doping Committee.

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.