LONDON: Former Zimbabwe batter Brendan Taylor has been handed a three-and-a-half year ban from all forms of cricket after he accepted four charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and one separate charge of breaching the Anti-Doping Code.
In addition to four breaches of the ICC anti-corruption code, Taylor was also charged with breaching the anti-doping code after testing positive for the stimulant benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, in an in-competition test conducted on Sep. 8 2021.
On Zimbabwean’s ban, Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager of the Integrity Unit said: “Brendan is a former international captain who represented Zimbabwe for 17 years.”
“Over such a long career, he participated in numerous anti-corruption and anti-doping education sessions and knew exactly what his obligations were under the ICC Anti-Corruption and Anti-Doping Codes,” he added.
Prior to the ICC investigation concluding, the former cricketer released a personal statement on social media where he alleged he was handed US$15,000 as a deposit for spot-fixing and said he would have been paid a further US$20,000 “once the ‘job’ was complete”.
Taylor also acknowledged his delay in reporting the approach to the ICC was not acceptable under the Code and urged other player to report such incidents to the ICC as soon as an approach is made, a sentiment reinforced by Marshall:
“I would echo Brendan’s message to other players to report approaches as soon as they happen so any corrupt activity can be disrupted at the earliest possible opportunity,” said Marshall.
However, Taylor denied ever having cheated in international cricket. “I would like to place on the record that I have never been involved in any form of match fixing,” said Taylor in his statement.
Taylor, who played for Zimbabwe in 34 tests, 205 one-dayers and 45 T20s, retired from international cricket in September.
