Berliner Tageszeitung - Chris Lynn's Cocaine Ban Revealed Amid BBL Move Speculation

The one-month suspension served by Australian cricketer Chris Lynn for cocaine use has been made public months after he completed the sanction. The revelation coincides with reports linking the 36-year-old batter to the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming Big Bash League season, reigniting scrutiny of his recent career trajectory following a positive drug test during his time in England.

Lynn served his ban from July 31 to August 30. The suspension was imposed after he tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in a urine sample collected on July 18 at Edgbaston during T20 Blast Finals Day.

The Australian batter had helped Northamptonshire win the trophy that day, scoring 39 runs in the semi-final and four in the final. However, analysis at a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in France detected the prohibited substance in his sample.

Lynn subsequently acknowledged taking cocaine on July 15 and into the early hours of July 16, several days before the test. Earlier that day, he had retired hurt during Northamptonshire's quarter-final win over Gloucestershire after being struck on the foot by a delivery from Duan Jansen.

England's Cricket Regulator accepted evidence that Lynn's cocaine use occurred out of competition and was unrelated to his sporting performance. This distinction was central to the penalty imposed, as the regulator initially pursued two charges under the England and Wales Cricket Board's anti-doping rules.

One charge was dropped because the concentration detected in his sample fell below the minimum threshold required for that specific violation. The remaining breach carried a proposed three-month suspension, which was reduced to one month after Lynn provided confirmation that he had completed a substance-abuse treatment program.

The regulator notified Lynn of his positive test and imposed a provisional suspension on July 31, two days after he had been ruled out of the Lanka Premier League with a leg injury. Lynn responded on August 20, admitting the cocaine use and supplying evidence regarding when it had occurred. He accepted the sanction, which was deemed completed on August 30.

Formal notice of the charges followed on September 23. Cocaine is prohibited in competition under anti-doping rules and is also classified as a substance of abuse.

Lynn has not played professional cricket since his brief stint in Sri Lanka, where he made one appearance for the Galle Gallants before his injury. His playing future is now back in the spotlight after reports that he agreed to join the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming BBL season, although the signing has not been officially announced.

One of Australia's most recognizable T20 power hitters, Lynn played four one-day internationals and 18 T20 internationals for his country. His most recent appearance for Australia came in 2018.

O. Petrow--BTZ