The Cricket Regulator v Christopher Wright

A decision in the case of the Cricket Regulator against Christopher Wright has been issued by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP).

On 13 October 2023, Mr Wright was notified by the Cricket Regulator that he may have committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for Presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Sample taken on 02 September 2023, ostarine, and Use of the same Prohibited Substance. This notification further mentioned that he was provisionally suspended. 

On 13 December 2023, the Cricket Regulator formally issued Mr Wright with a Notice of Charge for committing the ADRVs pursuant to the England and Wales Cricket Board Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) Articles 2.1 and 2.2. The National Anti-Doping Tribunal, comprised of Christopher Quinlan KC (Chair), Professor Brian Lunn and Blondel Thompson, who were appointed to determine this matter. 

On 16 January 2024, Mr Wright admitted both charges and therefore the issue before the Tribunal was to determine the period of Ineligibility. On 08 March 2024, Mr Wright informed the Cricket Regulator that a fruit supplement he purchased online through Company Y, was the cause of the Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF), due to the supplement being contaminated with ostarine. Therefore, suggesting the ADRVs he’s admitted to were not intentional for the purposes of ADR Article 10.2.1(a) and ADR Article 10.2.3, he did not knowingly commit the ADRVs pursuant to ADR Article 10.4, and bore No Significant Fault or Negligence.

The Tribunal determined on the balance of probabilities, Mr Wright’s ADRVs were not intentional, and the supplement was contaminated for the purposes of ADR Article 10.6.1(b). Also, that there was a small degree of Fault on behalf of Mr Wright in relation to the nature of the supplement he purchased and then used. 

Accordingly, the Tribunal was satisfied as Mr Wright had admitted he had committed the ADRVs pursuant to ADR Article 2.1 and Article 2.2. Also, that he was at Fault but with the particular circumstances in this matter imposed a period of Ineligibility of 9 months. Given that Mr Wright had been subject to a Provisional Suspension since 19 October 2023 and there was no evidence that he had not observed the Provisional Suspension, the 9-month period of Ineligibility was set to run from 19 October 2023 and end at midnight 18 July 2024.  

A copy of the full decision can be accessed via the related documents tab on the right-hand side.

The National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) is the United Kingdom’s independent tribunal responsible for adjudicating anti-doping disputes in sport. It is operated by Sport Resolutions and is entirely independent of UK Anti-Doping who is responsible for investigating, charging, and prosecuting cases before the NADP. It is also independent of the Cricket Regulator, who, on behalf of the ECB, is responsible for the enforcement of certain ECB rules and regulations, including the ECB Anti-Doping Rules.