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In a major blow to the end of his storied career, former New Zealand all-rounder Doug Bracewell was handed a two-year ban after testing positive for cocaine before his retirement from cricket last year. The announcement was made by the English cricket regulator on Friday April 24th.
The 35-year-old all-rounder, who retired from all forms of cricket in December after ending his England career with Essex, played 69 times for New Zealand across all formats, including 28 Tests.
Did Doug Bracewell get caught during a live game?
The most damaging aspect of the case is that the substance was found in a sample “in competition.” The test was carried out on September 25, 2025 during a County Championship game between Essex and Somerset.
Unlike his first offense in early 2024, which was punished as a “substance of abuse” outside a game window, this second positive test showed cocaine and its metabolites in his system during a first-class game. Bracewell admitted using the drug on the evening of September 24 and in the early hours of September 25, resulting in a much harsher sentence than the month-long suspension he previously served.
Why is the ban for two years if he is already retired?
Fans may be wondering why a two-year ban is important for a player who has already hung up his boots. In professional sports, a doping ban is more than just a “game ban”. The ruling, valid until November 23, 2027, strictly prohibits Bracewell from:
- Participation in an approved cricket activity (coaching, training or representing a club).
- Taking on administrative or medical functions within a WADA signatory organization.
- His results from September to November 2025 will be counted (all of his statistics from this period have been disqualified).
Cocaine is classified as a banned substance under the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) anti-doping regulations. Essex confirmed in a statement that he had failed a drug test.
“While the club does not condone Bracewell’s behavior, we are committed to supporting his rehabilitation in accordance with our policies and procedures,” Essex added.
Bracewell was also sanctioned in New Zealand in 2024 after testing positive for cocaine following a domestic Twenty20 match and serving a one-month ban after completing a substance abuse treatment program.
(With inputs from Reuters)
