Piper banned for rest of season

Warwickshire wicket-keeper, Keith Piper, has been banned from playing any form of cricket for the rest of the English domestic season, after being found guilty of taking recreational drugs.

Piper was tested positive for a known performance enhancing drug, during a County match against Glamorgan last month, following which he had to appear in front of a disciplinary committee, which found him guilty.

An England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement said Piper must take another drugs test before playing again and six more in the following 18 months. Dennis Amiss, the chief executive said in the statement, “We feel that Keith Piper’s punishment is appropriate and that it sends out the right message to current and future players. While it is dangerous to draw distinctions between types of drug misuse, and certainly not excusing it, the club considers that Keith’s offence is at the lowest level. However, Keith’s positive test for use of a recreational drug lets down both the County and the game. We will now work with the ECB and the Professional Cricketers’ Association to support Keith.”

The ban puts Piper out of contention for playing for in any form of the game coming under the administration of ECB. Piper himself said, “Of course I’m disappointed that I won’t be playing cricket again this season, but I hope to be back to coaching in October and on the field again next season if Warwickshire will have me.”