Australian women's cricket stalwart Megan Schutt has been suspended for two matches following a prescription medication breach unrelated to performance enhancement. According to The Guardian, the 33-year-old strike bowler's ban was announced on Thursday and stems from her failure to comply with Sports Science and Sports Medicine guidelines governing the use of prescription medications.
Schutt served the opening match of her suspension on Thursday evening when Australia's T20 international against New Zealand was abandoned due to rain in Sydney. ESPN reported that the incident occurred during an off period before the Bangladesh series, though the bowler continued to play during the investigation, featuring in a WNCL match and all three Bangladesh ODIs.
I fully accept the penalty handed down and apologise for failing to meet the standards expected of me,Schutt said in a statement.
I'm sorry for the attention this has caused and appreciate the support I've received. 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.
Cricket Australia confirmed that Schutt's breach involved
a single incidence which occurred while out of competition and was not for performance enhancing purposes.The governing body added that
the two-match ban includes all international and domestic cricketand pledged to
continue to provide appropriate support to Megan and reinforce the standards and responsibilities expected of everyone representing our game.
What are the rules around prescription medication in cricket?
Personal prescription medication that is not performance-enhancing is permitted under Cricket Australia and anti-doping rules, but is subject to strict requirements, including personal use only. Players receive regular education on these guidelines as part of their responsibilities as international representatives.
What is Schutt's record in women's cricket?
Schutt ranks among the top-10 all-time wicket-takers in women's cricket. The South Australian has claimed 319 wickets across 244 international appearances, comprising four Tests, 114 ODIs and 126 T20s since her debut in 2012. Most recently, she demonstrated her continued effectiveness during the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, where she took 10 wickets across the three encounters. During the investigation period, she claimed 2 for 49 in a WNCL match and then took 2 for 19, 4 for 36 and 4 for 16 across the Bangladesh ODI series.
When will Schutt serve her remaining suspension?
Schutt is expected to complete the second match of her ban when her Adelaide Strikers begin their Women's Big Bash League campaign against the Melbourne Stars on 31 October. The suspension applies to all international and domestic cricket competitions.
