Vivian Kingma, a Netherlands pacer, has received a three-month suspension after testing positive for a recreational substance. The 30-year-old admitted to the charge, proving that the chemical was used outside of competition.
Kingma’s sample, collected after the Netherlands’ ODI against the United Arab Emirates on May 12 in Utrecht as part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2, tested positive for Benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite designated as a Substance of Abuse under the ICC Anti-Doping Code. The prohibition becomes effective on August 15. However, if Kingma successfully completes an ICC-approved treatment course, the three-month period will be reduced to one month. In addition to the punishment, his whole record since the UAE ODI has been annulled.
This disqualification affects two One-Day Internationals against Nepal and Scotland, in which Kingma took two wickets for 122 runs combined. It also contains a T20I versus Scotland, where he bowled only three deliveries before being removed.
Vivian Kingma’s case follows a recent trend of recreational drug violations in international cricket.
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell both served bans for recreational drug use within the last year. In both cases, the initial three-month suspensions were reduced to one month after the players successfully completed ICC-approved treatment programmes.
Kagiso Rabada had admitted to testing positive for recreational drugs and served a provisional suspension, leading to his early exit from IPL 2025 on April 3. Similarly, Bracewell was provisionally suspended without opposition on April 11 after an in-competition test on January 13 at a Super Smash match between Wellington Firebirds and Central Stags in Wellington returned an adverse analytical finding.
The ICC continues to treat recreational drug use seriously while offering pathways for rehabilitation. Kingma’s case highlights both the strict anti-doping measures in place and the option for players to reduce suspensions through approved treatment programmes.
India
