SYDNEY: Australia women’s fast bowler Megan Schutt has been suspended for two matches for breaching Cricket Australia’s regulations concerning the use of prescribed medication.
According to Cricket Australia, Schutt breached requirements under its Sports Science and Sports Medicine guidelines relating to prescription medication. The governing body clarified that the incident occurred outside a cricket match and that the medication was not used to enhance her performance.
Schutt accepted the sanction and apologized for failing to comply with the relevant requirements. She said she accepted responsibility for the breach and regretted not meeting the required standards.
Matches Schutt Will Miss
The suspension means Schutt will miss Australia’s third and final T20I against New Zealand at North Sydney Oval on Thursday.
She will also be unavailable for the Adelaide Strikers’ opening match of the Women’s Big Bash League season against the Melbourne Stars on October 31.
Schutt is an experienced right-arm fast bowler who made her international debut in 2012. She was the leading wicket-taker at the 2013 Women’s Cricket World Cup and played an important role in Australia’s title-winning campaign at the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup.
She is also the first woman to take two hat-tricks in international cricket.
Cricket Australia said this was the first such incident involving Schutt and emphasized that the breach concerned compliance with medication requirements rather than an attempt to gain a sporting advantage.
Sports medication regulations are designed to protect athletes’ health and ensure transparency and compliance in the use of medicines. In some circumstances, players may be required to notify the relevant sporting authority or obtain prior approval even when medication is being taken for legitimate medical reasons.