ICC suspends Bangladesh’s Shohidul Islam for doping violation

After pleading guilty to breaching Article 2.1 of the ICC Anti-Doping Code, Shohidul Islam, Bangladesh's 27-year-old fast bowler, has been suspended from all forms of cricket for 10 months. The 27-year-old, who played for Bangladesh in one T20I, admitted to the offence on May 28 and will be eligible to play on March 28 next year.

Against Pakistan on his only T20I for Bangladesh so far, Shohidul took the prized wicket of Mohammad Rizwan. He recently travelled with Bangladesh squads for series against New Zealand and South Africa but did not get any opportunity to prosper. He was also a part of the Bangladesh Test and T20I squad for the ongoing West Indies tour but has been ruled out due to a side strain.

"Shohidul's urine sample was positive for Clomifene, which is classified as a Specified Substance under WADA's Prohibited List. It is prohibited both in-competition as well as out-of-competition. Shohidul had provided the urine sample as a part of ICC's out-of-competition testing programme," an ICC statement read.

"While handing out the suspension, the ICC confirmed that Shohidul had inadvertently ingested the prohibited substance in the form of a medicine that he had been legitimately prescribed for therapeutic purposes. Shohidul also testified that he had no intention to use the prohibited substance for performance enhancement."