ICC bans Brendan Taylor from all forms of cricket for three and-half-year
ICC bans Brendan Taylor from all forms of cricket for three and-half-year!
The development comes as the former Zimbabwe skipper accepted to breach ICC’s anti-corruption and anti-doping codes.
Taylor, 35, who made more than 200 appearances for Zimbabwe and also represented Nottinghamshire, released a statement earlier this week, admitting that he took cocaine and claimed he was approached for spot-fixing.
His violation under the ICC Anti-Doping Code, which is separate and independent of the anti-corruption charges, resulted from an in-competition test conducted on September 8, 2021, following Zimbabwe’s match against Ireland.
Taylor tested positive for the stimulant Benzoylecognine, a cocaine metabolite, which is specified as a Substance of Abuse under the Code.
Taylor stated that he was approached by an Indian businessman in 2019 and was paid $15,000 as “a ‘deposit’ for spot-fixing”.
Brendan Taylor said he had been filmed taking cocaine and was threatened that “the video would be released to the public” if he did not spot fix.
Taylor added that he did not carry out any spot-fixing and stated he has “never been involved in any form of match-fixing”.
Taylor has accepted a one-month period of ineligibility for the violation under Article 2.1 – the minimum allowed under the Code.
Article 2.4.2 – Failing to disclose (without unnecessary delay) the receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality, or other benefits that (a) the participant knew or should have known was given to them to procure a breach of the Code or (b) that was made or given in circumstances that could bring the participant or the sport of cricket into disrepute.
Article 2.4.3 – Failing to disclose to the ACU (without unnecessary delay) receipt of gifts/hospitality with a value of US$750 or more regardless of the circumstances in which they were given.
Article 2.4.4 – Failing to disclose to the ACU (without unnecessary delay) full details of the approach received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code including in relation to Zimbabwe’s then-upcoming series against Sri Lanka and/or Bangladesh.
Article 2.4.7 – obstructing or delaying an ACU investigation, including concealing, tampering with, or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence of or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
Early last year, Heath Streak – another former captain and a much-respected name in franchise cricket as a coach and mentor, was handed an eight-year ban after being charged with – and admitting to five breaches of the anti-corruption code, including accepting payment in bitcoins from a potential corruptor.
