Michael Vaughan slams Alex Hales for failing recreational drug test twice

England batsman Alex Hales, who has been picked in the World Cup squad, has failed a drugs test. The 30-year-old is currently serving a 21-day ban after testing positive for a recreational drug for the second time, according to a report in the Guardian. The man also pulled out of his county Nottinghamshire’s campaign in Royal London One-Day Cup soon after the WC squad was announced, citing personal reasons. Hales though was set to join the national team’s camp.

The drug violation is learned to have been detected after the cricketer underwent a routine hair follicle test that all cricketers – male and female – take at the beginning and finish of every season. The test started in 2013 following the tragic death of English first-class cricketer Tom Maynard.

While the players violating the policy for the first time are given advice and support, a second violating could lead to a three-week ban beside a five per cent fine of his/her annual salary. The players’ county is also informed about it besides the ECB and PCA authorities. A third violation could lead to a dismissal.

Vaughan feels Hales should not be picked for WC

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, a vocal man on Twitter, slammed Hales over his second violation and said the latter should not be picked for the World Cup squad.

“No sympathy what’s so ever for Alex Hales … 2nd time he has failed a recreational drugs Test !!!!!!!!!!! Should not be anywhere near the WC squad imo …” he wrote.

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Hales is likely to attend England’s training camp in Cardiff this week despite the ban but after that notorious brawl outside a nightclub in Bristol that featured Hales along with Ben Stokes, this episode is going to be another blow for the batsman who has a decent strike-rate in T20 cricket. Hales has scored over 4,000 international runs across the three formats and has seven hundreds to his credit, including three in ODIs.

Hales, who is a centrally contracted England player, would also have seen the information shared with Ashley Giles – the director of England cricket. If he is found to violate the policy again, the contract could be negated either by the ECB or the county.

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