The statement added that Bracewell had “admitted to using cocaine, but maintained that his use occurred outside of competition, before midnight the day before the match, and that it was not related to athletic performance.” The Sports Integrity Commission did not accept that and “held that the use must have occurred in competition.”
The court imposed a “one-month period of ineligibility,” which was retroactive to begin April 11, the date of the interim suspension order.
Both the Commission and Bracewell subsequently presented expert evidence on the matter, and a court hearing was scheduled for December 11 and 12. But last week, on November 11, “counsel submitted a joint memorandum in which the Commission indicated that, having considered all of the evidence presented in this proceeding, taken together, it accepted Mr. Bracewell’s position.” As a result, it was “agreed that the appropriate sanction was a three-month period of ineligibility, which would be reduced to one month, as Mr. Bracewell had successfully completed a Commission-approved substance abuse treatment program.”
The court subsequently imposed a “one-month period of ineligibility,” which was retroactive to begin April 11, which was the date of the interim suspension order.
Bracewell, 34, has played 28 Tests (74 wickets), 21 ODIs (26 wickets) and 20 T20Is (20 wickets) after making his international debut in October 2011. He last played for New Zealand in a match test against Sri Lanka in Wellington. in March 2023.
Bracewell, a Central Districts player throughout his national career, recently opted to terminate a contract with the club to become self-employed. He is expected to be in action next in the Abu Dhabi T10 league, where he is part of New York Strikers, and then in the SA20 early next year as part of Joburg Super Kings.
