South Africa's Zubayr Hamza tests positive for prohibited substance

South Africa‘s Zubayr Hamza has tested positive for a banned substance under the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-doping Test, which was conducted on 17 March, 2022.

The substance was identified to be Furosemide, which, as per reports, is not a performance-enhancing substance and but a diuretic, prescribed to treat hypertension and reduce swelling caused by fluid build-up in the body.

Meanwhile, Hamza has agreed to cooperate with ICC in the matter and has gone into voluntary suspension as well. The CSA statement confirmed the authorities – CSA, SACA and WPCA – are “supporting him in the process”.

Zubayr is co-operating fully with the ICC: CSA release

“Cricket South Africa (CSA), the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) and Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) today announced that Proteas player, Zubayr Hamza has tested positive for a prohibited substance under the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-doping code. The positive test followed an ICC anti-doping test on the 17 January 2022,” the CSA said in a statement.

“Zubayr is not disputing the positive test, is co-operating fully with the ICC, and has agreed to a voluntary suspension commencing immediately whilst written submissions are presented to the ICC,” it added.

“The positive test relates to the substance Furosemide, which is not a performance enhancing substance, and Zubayr has been able to identify how the substance entered his system. The process to follow will entail presenting evidence that there was no fault or negligence, or no significant fault or negligence on the part of Zubayr.

CSA, SACA and WPCA are supporting Zubayr in this process, and will continue to do so until the matter is concluded,” the statement further said.

The right-hander, who made his Test debut against Pakistan in 2019, has managed to play six Tests for his country, with only a solitary half-century in 12 innings. He made his One Day International debut against Netherlands in 2021 and scored a half-century in the opening ODI before the three-match series had to be cancelled due to the threat of Omicron variant of Covid-19. The 26-year-old recently withdrew from the ongoing series against Bangladesh due to personal reasons.