Former New Zealand international Doug Bracewell has been handed a two-year suspension from cricket after testing positive for cocaine during a County Championship match while representing Essex, with the sanction imposed following an in-competition anti-doping violation confirmed by England’s Cricket Regulator. The 35-year-old accepted the charge after a sample collected during the fixture against Somerset in Chelmsford returned a positive result for a prohibited substance.
Test results and admission confirm violation
The in-competition sample, taken on 25 September 2025, returned Adverse Analytical Findings for cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine, substances prohibited under anti-doping regulations during competition, according to the Cricket Regulator’s decision. In its findings, the regulator stated, “The Cricketer’s urine sample was sent to the WADA-accredited Laboratory in King’s College, London for analysis and returned Adverse Analytical Findings (“AAF”) for cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine,” confirming the laboratory outcome.
Bracewell featured prominently in the match in which the sample was taken, opening the bowling and claiming two wickets on the first day as Somerset built their first-innings total. He finished with figures of 2-87 across 22 overs in that innings and later added 1-33 in the second innings, although he was dismissed without scoring in Essex’s reply.
Bracewell was notified of the result on 24 November 2025 and was provisionally suspended at that point, according to the regulator’s decision. He later confirmed in his response that he had used cocaine across the evening following the first day of the match and into the early hours before the second day’s play, accepting that this constituted an in-competition violation under the rules.
Essex statement outlines club position
Responding to the development, Essex County Cricket Club said in an official statement, “Essex can confirm that Doug Bracewell failed a routine drugs test in September 2025,” establishing the failed test timeline. The club added, “The club supports the Cricket Regulator’s decision to impose a period of ineligibility of two years. All employees are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct.” It further stated, “While the club does not condone Bracewell’s behaviour, we are committed to supporting him through rehabilitation in line with our policies and procedures.”
The regulator confirmed that the two-year period of ineligibility runs from the date of the provisional suspension on 24 November 2025 through to 23 November 2027, forming the official sanction timeline. No disciplinary action has been taken against Essex in connection with the case, with responsibility limited to the player under the governing rules.
Career context and prior sanction
Bracewell, who represented New Zealand 69 times across formats including 28 Test matches, retired from professional cricket in December 2025 following the positive test. The sanction has been applied despite his retirement, reflecting the regulator’s authority over anti-doping violations during his playing period.
The latest ban follows a previous incident in 2024, when Bracewell served a one-month suspension after testing positive for cocaine in a domestic T20 competition, marking a second anti-doping breach involving the same substance.
