Zubayr Hamza tests positive for prohibited substance

South Africa batter Zubayr Hamza has tested positive for a prohibited substance under the ICC's anti-doping code. A Cricket South Africa (CSA) statement said "the positive test followed an ICC anti-doping test on the 17 January 2022."

The statement further said Hamza is "not disputing" the positive test, is "cooperating fully with the ICC" and has agreed to voluntary suspension commencing immediately while written submissions are presented to the ICC.

Hamza tested positive for the substance Furosemide, which is not a performance enhancing substance, the CSA statement said, and he has been able to identify how it entered his system.

"The process to follow will entail presenting evidence that there was no fault or negligence, or no significant fault or negligence on the part of Zubayr," the statement said. "CSA, SACA and WPCA are supporting Zubayr in this process, and will continue to do so until the matter is concluded."

Hamza, 26, made his Test debut against Pakistan in early 2019 when he became South Africa's 100th Test player since readmission. He made his ODI debut against Netherlands in November last year to score 56 in a washout before the series was called off before the Omicron variant of Covid postponed the remaining two ODIs.

Hamza has played six Tests in all and had withdrawn from both Test and ODI series because of "personal reasons" when the squad was announced last week, for the Bangladesh series.