The concerned players, Wessly Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta, both tested positive for a banned recreational drug in an out-of-competition case recorded during a recent in-house doping test.
They have been charged under the ZC Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials and will appear for a disciplinary hearing soon.
Recreational drugs include cannabis, amphetamines, BZP, MDMA, heroin and cocaine. Many may ask "For how long will these players be banned?"
In the press release the ZC states the sample was collected out-of-competition. That means they will get a reduced ban - if one at all. It all depends on the substance.
Recently we've seen that a positive test for cocaine results in three months suspensions. Amphetamine however may result in a two year ban.
In 2021, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recognised that some substances are “frequently abused in society outside the context of sport” and added the Substances of Abuse category to the Prohibited List.
All four substances in this category – THC (cannabis), MDMA, heroin and cocaine - remain banned in sport in-competition.
Cricket is a sport that do not have a big doping problem. In the Anti-Doping Database we have registered less than 50 doping cases. The most commonly used substance athlete test positive for is cannabis - a recreational drug. This followed by Terbutaline and Nandrolone.
Pakistan is the country with the most doping cases - 10 in total. They are followed by India (7), Netherlands and New Zealand - both with 5 doping cases.
The press release can be found on the Zimbabwe Cricket Federation website.