The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sanctioned Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz with a three-month ban after he tested positive for a cannabis-related substance, the governing body announced on Friday. The ban can be reduced upon completion of a rehabilitation program.

The 32-year-old tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a metabolite of THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis, following Pakistan's T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands in February. Carboxy-THC is classified as a Substance of Abuse under the ICC's Anti-Doping Code.

Nawaz admitted the violation and demonstrated that the substance was used out of competition in a manner unrelated to sporting performance. The three-month suspension is backdated to May 1, the date he began a voluntary provisional suspension.

The ICC stated that after serving about two and a half months under provisional suspension and agreeing to undergo rehabilitation, his provisional suspension has been lifted. However, his records from the Netherlands match on February 7 and subsequent matches until May 1 have been disqualified.

Nawaz played in all seven of Pakistan's matches at this year's men's T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, from their opening game against the Netherlands through the Super Eights stage, where they were eliminated. He scored 15 runs and took seven wickets in the tournament.

Source: www.aljazeera.com