Of pills, herbal remedies and positive tests

Andre Russell has been banned for one year for failing thrice in 2015 to adhere to the whereabouts clause of the WADA code. Under the code that amounts to a failed test, though Russell may yet appeal the ban. It isn't cricket's first violation of anti-doping legislation and ESPNcricinfo looks back at past instances when, unlike Russell's case, illegal substances were involved.

Mohammad Asif

He could almost have three entries in this list. In 2006, he was dropped from Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad along with Shoaib Akhtar, and suspended by the PCB when tests revealed the performance-enhancing substance Nandrolone. However, in late 2006 both players were cleared on appeal by a domestic inquiry. In 2008, Asif was detained at Dubai airport on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs, but after 19 days in custody was released when the case was dropped. However, a month after that it was revealed Asif had tested positive for steroids at the IPL and was banned for a year before returning to international cricket in September 2009. It wasn't, though, the end of his run-in with the law.

Shane Warne

The 2003 World Cup is remembered for many reasons - on and off the field - one of which was Australia's unbeaten surge to the title. However, the tournament started in far more controversial circumstances for them. On the the eve of their tournament opener against Pakistan, Warne was revealed to have tested positive for a diuretic known as Moduretic which was banned because it could be used as a masking agent. It subsequently emerged it had come from a pill given to him by his mother in an aid to help him lose a few pounds for the cameras. Warne immediately flew home and was handed a one-year ban. He would not appear in ODIs for Australia again, but would return to play 38 more Tests which brought 217 wickets.

Yasir Shah

Almost a case of imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. Yasir didn't quite fall foul of his mother giving him a pill, as Warne did, but he did manage to accidentally take his wide's blood pressure medication which led to a three-month ban by the ICC in early 2016. The sample, taken after an ODI against England in November 2015, found traces of chlortalidone which is used to treat high blood pressure and is on WADA's list of banned diuretics and masking agents. Yasir missed the PSL, Asia Cup and World T20 but was back to face England were he played a starring role in the 2-2 Test series.

Upul Tharanga

Tharanga had enjoyed a productive 2011 World Cup, with hundreds against Zimbabwe and England, as Sri Lanka reached the final where they were beaten by India. However, shortly after the tournament, a urine sample taken after the semi-final against New Zealand revealed traces of prednisone and prednisolone which were both on WADA's banned list. Tharanga initially pleaded innocence but then admitted having taken a herbal remedy which contained the banned substance to help a shoulder injury. The ICC accepted Tharanga had not taken the substances to enhance performance so handed out a three-month ban. He is currently captaining Sri Lanka's ODI team in the absence of Angelo Mathews.

Keith Piper

One of the most naturally gifted wicketkeepers of his generation, and the man at the non-striker's end when Brian Lara reached 501, Piper had initially served a one-match suspension in 1997 for cannabis use. Eight years later and he was banned for the majority of the 2005 season for the same offence, which ended his playing career, having tested positive during Warwickshire's first County Championship match of the season against Glamorgan. He later returned to the game as a coach.