Chris Lynn completes one-month ban after positive cocaine test in England’s T20 Blast
Former Kolkata Knight Riders batter Chris Lynn has completed a one-month suspension after returning a positive test for a cocaine metabolite on July 18 during England’s domestic T20 Blast while representing Northamptonshire earlier this year. The 36-year-old Australian admitted to using the recreational drug in July and cricket authorities accepted that the substance was taken out of competition and had no connection to sporting performance.
Lynn’s sample was collected following Northamptonshire’s title-winning campaign at the T20 Blast Finals Day, and he was provisionally suspended on July 31. He subsequently admitted to using cocaine during the period of July 15 and 16. The English cricket regulator originally pursued two anti-doping charges in the case; one charge was dropped after the metabolite concentration in his sample was found to be below the threshold set by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The regulator had sought a three-month ban, but the penalty was reduced to one month after Lynn agreed to participate in a substance abuse treatment programme. He completed that programme on August 30. Following the completion of the treatment and the reduced sanction, Lynn served the one-month suspension imposed by the regulator.
The former Australia international has not played professional cricket since the start of his suspension. His immediate future in the game remains uncertain. Lynn has yet to sign a contract with a Big Bash League (BBL) franchise for the upcoming season.
Lynn remains well known to Indian cricket followers for his Indian Premier League contributions with Kolkata Knight Riders, where his aggressive opening batting established him as a prominent T20 performer. One of his standout IPL innings came in 2017, when he struck an unbeaten 93 off 41 deliveries against Gujarat Lions. That innings featured a 184-run opening partnership with Gautam Gambhir.
He later represented Mumbai Indians in the IPL but struggled to secure a regular place in that side. At international level, Lynn played four One-Day Internationals and 18 Twenty20 Internationals for Australia. It was in franchise cricket that he built his reputation as an explosive T20 batter, appearing in leagues across the world.
Although Lynn has completed the one-month suspension and the associated treatment programme, he remains without a BBL contract for the upcoming season.