Australian women’s team star banned for two matches after prescription medication breach
New Delhi: Australia women’s cricket team fast bowler Megan Schutt has been suspended for two matches by Cricket Australia (CA) for breaching prescription-medication rules. Schutt was found guilty of failing to comply with the CA guidelines governing the use of prescription medication.
CA’s two-match suspension covers both domestic and international cricket. The pacer will now miss the third and final T20I between Australia and New Zealand at the North Sydney Oval on Thursday. Schutt will also miss Adelaide Strikers’ opening fixture of the Women’s Big Bash League 12 against Melbourne Stars on October 31.
“The breach was a failure to adhere to requirements under the Sports Science and Sports Medicine guidelines with regard to prescription medication,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.
CA clarified that the breach was an isolated incident and outside of a competition. The Australian cricket board also confirmed that the incident is not linked to performance enhancement purposes.
“This relates to a single incidence which occurred while out of competition and was not for performance-enhancing purposes,” CA added in its statement.
Megan Schutt apologises for breach
Schutt accepted the two-match suspension and apologised for failing to comply with Cricket Australia’s guidelines pertaining to the use of prescription medication.
“I fully accept the penalty handed down and apologise for failing to meet the standards expected of me. I’m sorry for the attention this has caused and appreciate the support I’ve received,” Schutt’s statement read.
“While this occurred out of competition and was not performance-related, I understand that I am responsible for following the Sports Science and Sports Medicine Guidelines, which players receive regular education on, and I should have adhered to these guidelines,” she added.
Cricket Australia stated that it will continue to provide appropriate support to Schull while making it clear that it expects every player representing the country to be responsible and maintain the standards expected of them.
Schutt was recently in action for Australia in their ODI series against Bangladesh, where she picked up ten wickets in three matches to bag the Player of the Series award. An experienced campaigner, Schutt has played 4 Tests, 114 ODIs and 126 T20Is for Australia in her international career so far. She has 319 wickets to her name in all three formats combined.