Keith Barker slapped with a 12-month suspension after testing positive for using a banned substance by NADA.
Keith Barker, the Hampshire left-arm seamer, has been suspended from all cricket for 12 months – backdated to July 2024 .
In May 2024, Barker tested positive for Indapamide, a “administrative error” that the club claimed. In July 2024, the Cricket Regulator placed him on temporary suspension. At a hearing on March 5, he later admitted to breaking two of the ECB Anti-Doping Rules. He will resume playing competitive cricket on July 4.
Indapamide is used to treat hypertension even though it is on WADA’s 2024 forbidden list as a diuretic and masking agent. Barker was prescribed it as a like-for-like substitute for his long-standing prescription. However, his request for a retrospective Therapeutic Use Exemption was denied since it was not disclosed to UK Anti-Doping at the time of use.
Barker was given a 12-month penalty by the National Anti-Doping Panel. This notwithstanding the review panel’s acceptance that he had no intention of breaking anti-doping regulations and was not looking for any performance benefit.
In four County Championship games last summer, Barker, 38, took 16 wickets at a rate of 24.37. This includes a best of 6 for 74 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in June. He and the club have been unable to publicly remark on his subsequent absence from the team due to the circumstances surrounding his case.
Keith Barker makes statement
“Over the last nine months I have been part of a very tense, gruelling process leading to the results of my hearing.” Barker said in a statement issued by Hampshire. “Having been forced to step away from my career and the sport I have loved since I was a young child due to a genuine administrative error has been mentally taxing and left me fearing for the loss of my career that is very dear to me.
“I’d like to thank the support of the PCA, all the professionals involved in working on my case. Hampshire Cricket and family and friends for helping me get through this difficult time,” Barker added.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to playing the game that I love. My hope is for any young professionals to look at my case with a renewed sense of vigilance around medication and anti-doping procedures in professional sport.”
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