Chris Wright will serve his nine-month penalty on July 19 after admitting to an anti-doping infraction

The seasoned seamer from Leicestershire, Chris Wright, has acknowledged that he has been serving a nine-month suspension for an anti-doping infraction following a test that revealed he contained a minuscule amount of an illegal substance.

Despite agreeing to a new deal with the team last year after abandoning his plans to go to Sussex, Wright has not appeared for Leicestershire throughout the season. Following reports that his absence stemmed from a failed drug test, the 38-year-old has now acknowledged that he “returned the adverse result” in October in a statement issued by the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA).

Despite the fact that the National Anti-Doping Agency and the Cricket Regulator acknowledged that Wright had not knowingly consumed Ostarine—a non-performance-enhancing chemical derived from tainted food supplements—he was unable to avoid a ban. The PCA declared that it will be seeking a reconsideration of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) position regarding minute quantities of prohibited substances consumed through contamination.

Because his punishment is retroactive, Wright has resumed training and can begin playing for his county on July 19.

“I was shocked to find out that I had tested positive for trace amounts of a banned substance on a single occasion back in October 2023,” said Wright. The fruit supplement I was taking at the time, which I got from a reputable company, wasn’t meant to improve athletic performance. Before I sent in the needed sample that yielded the negative result, I completely revealed this on my doping control form.

“It was my great fortune to discover, with the assistance of scientists, that the supplement contained ostarine, a synthetic material that shouldn’t be found in any food product in the UK. The Cricket Regulator acknowledged this. The independent panel’s ruling in my case demonstrates that I did not intend to consume such chemical and could not have known the supplement was contaminated with it. The supplement maker has not provided an explanation for how that came to be.

“After what has been an incredibly difficult and trying time for me and my family, the panel determined that I bore no significant fault. I am pleased that this matter has been resolved so that I can resume playing soon.” I’ve resumed my workout and am eager to go back to 100%.

“While this problem was being settled, I would like to express my gratitude to the PCA for their support during my suspension. Their assistance, backing, and direction have been priceless. Additionally, I want to thank Claude Henderson and Alfonso Thomas of Leicestershire CCC for their help during this trying time. Through the entire process, they have been incredibly kind and encouraging, and they want to see me return to the game as soon as possible. Finally, my family deserves my gratitude. It has also been a terribly difficult period for them, and their love and optimism have helped me tremendously throughout this time. I shall remain appreciative forever.”

According to Ian Thomas, managing director of member services at PCA, the players’ union would collaborate with the World Players’ Association to push for a change in WADA’s regulations because they were concerned about the absence of a threshold for situations “where it is clear there is no intent or scientific evidence to show athletes have genuinely taken banned substances.”

“We are pleased Chris is now back in training and able to continue his career from July 19,” added Thomas. Chris has sadly become a victim of a case of contamination. It serves as a warning to all of our members about the risks associated with supplement use. Chris’s professional playing career might have ended early as a result of this.

Chris Wright and his family have been under a great deal of stress ever since his suspension in October 2023, and the PCA has been working closely with him and his legal team, especially Craig Harris, to get the best possible result and, in the end, rescue his career.

“The absence of criteria for prohibited substances—in this case, ostarine—that result in a positive test when it is obvious that there is no intention or supporting data to demonstrate that athletes have really used prohibited substances worries the PCA much. We are really worried that these compounds could still pose a threat to produce when they contaminate food or supplements.

“To get WADA to conduct a thorough assessment of this, the PCA is collaborating with the World Players’ Association.

“A clean sport with zero tolerance for the use of performance-enhancing drugs is something that WADA is essential in maintaining. Nevertheless, when a trace level of a chemical indicates that athletes are contaminated, it is neither fair nor acceptable to suspend and/or permanently ban innocent athletes.”