Tom Wood set for Derbyshire return after serving a doping ban

Derbyshire batter Tom Wood is free to return to play for his club after ending the six-month ban for using a banned substance.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) charged him with two anti-doping violations, which carried a punishment of two to four years. 

Wood was tested for the first time in his professional career in September 2021 and tested positive for the banned substance- terbutaline and thus failed the doping test.

Wood served the ban for six months

In his defence, Wood said that he has been suffering from asthma since the age of 12, and thus he uses the asthma inhaler, which contains terbutaline.

"It is accepted as truthful that he mistakenly believed he was not subject to an obligation to apply in advance for a TUE [theraputic use exemption] as he was considered a second team player," the National Anti-Doping panel report read.

The panel decided to ban him for six months, a suspension backdated to January 8 and expired on July 7.

Wood had no intention to breach the Anti-Doping Rules: ECB

After further investigation, the ECB accepted Wood did not intend to cheat and that his actions were not intentional.

"Mr Wood admitted the charges, and both the Panel and the ECB accepted that Mr Wood had no intention to breach the ECB Anti-Doping Rules," the ECB said in a statement.

Wood admitted the charges

 "It is with enormous regret I confirm I received, and have served, a 6-month ban for an Anti-Doping violation," Wood said in a statement.

"I look forward to moving on from this and I cannot wait to get back out on the pitch for Derbyshire and help the team push on in the second half of the season," he added. 

Derbyshire's head of cricket, Mickey Arthur, is looking forward to the return of Tom Wood.

"It's been a really difficult time for Tom. He was very much part of our plans for this season, and he still can be now he is back and available," said Arthur. "I hope he comes back better and stronger," he concluded. 

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