Sports · Cricket · 1 hr ago
Chris Lynn served one-month suspension after cocaine test
Australian batter Chris Lynn served a one-month suspension after a drug test connected to England’s T20 Blast Finals Day in July found a cocaine metabolite.
The 36-year-old was playing for Northamptonshire, which won the tournament final on July 18.
Lynn told the regulator that he had used cocaine on July 15 and into July 16, outside competition and not to improve his performance.
The regulator reduced a proposed three-month ban after one of two charges was dropped and Lynn completed a substance-abuse treatment programme.
His suspension ran from July 31 to August 30, and he accepted the sanction.
The case became public months after the ban ended, following the regulator’s announcement in November.
Lynn has not played professionally since a brief spell in Sri Lanka, where he made one appearance before a leg injury ruled him out.
He has reportedly agreed to join the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming Big Bash League season, but the signing has not been officially announced.
Chris Lynn served a one-month suspension after a urine sample tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite.
The Cricket Regulator said the sample was collected on T20 Blast Finals Day on July 18, after Northamptonshire won the title.
The regulator accepted evidence that Lynn used cocaine outside competition and that it was unrelated to sporting performance.
His proposed three-month suspension was reduced after he completed a substance-abuse treatment programme.
The suspension ran from July 31 to August 30, 2026, and the case became public in November.
- Who
- Chris Lynn, a former Australian international and Northamptonshire batter.
- What
- He served a one-month suspension after a sample tested positive for a cocaine metabolite.
- When
- The sample was collected on July 18, 2026. The suspension ran from July 31 to August 30.
- Where
- The sample was collected at T20 Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston. It was analysed at a laboratory in France.
- Why
- The test detected benzoylecgonine. The regulator accepted that Lynn’s cocaine use was out of competition and unrelated to sporting performance.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lynn later acknowledged using cocaine from July 15 into the early hours of July 16.
A urine sample was collected from Lynn on T20 Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston.
Lynn was notified of the adverse finding and his provisional suspension began.
The one-month suspension ended.
Formal notice of the charges followed, according to the Daily Mail.
News outlets reported that Lynn’s suspension had been served.
- Player
- Chris Lynn
- Sample date
- July 18, 2026
- Detected substance
- Benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite
- Suspension
- One month
- Suspension dates
- July 31 to August 30, 2026
- Treatment
- Substance-abuse treatment programme completed
4 sources
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What people are saying
The Cricket Regulator has imposed a one-month suspension on former Northamptonshire Steelbacks cricketer Chris Lynn. The period of suspension has now been served.
Mr Lynn has accepted the sanction. No further comment will be made on this matter.