South Africa's Zubayr Hamza suspsended for 9 months after accidentally taking father's heart medication

South Africa batter Zubayr Hamza has been suspended for 9 months for doping violation. The Test specialist will be able to resume his career in December later this year.

South Africa Test batter Zuabyr Hamza has been suspended for 9 months after accidentally taking his father's medication that contained the banned substance Furosemide, the International Cricket Council said on Tuesday, May 17.

Zubayr Hamza intended to take his own anti-allergy medication but he ingested the wrong pill, according to a submission to the ICC integrity unit. The ICC has accepted his explanation and reduced his suspension from the usual two years to nine months, back-dated to March 22 this year.

Zubayr Hamza's 9-month suspension will see him ruled out of the tour of England later this year. Hamza has played 6 Tests and an ODI for South Africa so far. He will be able to resume his career in December 2022.

"It is a timely reminder to all international cricketers that they remain responsible for anything they put into their bodies, to know exactly what medication they are taking so as to ensure it does not contain a prohibited substance and does not result in an anti-doping rule violation," Alex Marshall, General Manager of the ICC's Integrity Unit, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Hamza’s performances between Jan. 17 and March 22 this year have been expunged from the records, including his scores of 25 and six in the innings and 276-run first Test loss to New Zealand in February