West Indies cricketer Andre Russell banned for a year

Kingston (Jamaica), Feb 1 (CRICKETNMORE) West Indies cricketer Andre Russell has been banned for 12 months for breaching anti-doping regulations.

The Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel took the decision after the player failed to reveal his whereabouts between March and September 2015, reports Jamaica Observer.

This constitutes a failed drugs test under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.

A distraught Russell, a two-time Twenty20 World Cup winner, refused to comment. His suspension, which began on Tuesday, will end on January 30, 2018.

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Russell appeared to be in tears when the decision was announced at the Jamaica Conference Centre here, the daily said.

The 28-year-old Jamaican helped the West Indies win their second World T20 title in 2016.

WADA rules state that athletes across all sports must inform their local anti-doping agencies where they will be for at least one hour each day to facilitate drug tests.

Russell's lead attorney was relieved he didn't get a two-year ban.