Hamza had been under "voluntary suspension" since March this year. © Getty
South Africa batter Zubayr Hamza has been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a doping violation. Hamza had tested positive earlier this year and had taken a "voluntary suspension" in March according to Cricket South Africa.

In March, CSA had stated that Hamza was cooperating with the ICC's investigations. "Zubayr is not disputing the positive test, is cooperating fully with the ICC, and has agreed to a voluntary suspension commencing immediately whilst written submissions are presented to the ICC," CSA had stated.

The ICC's investigations have now concluded with Hamza's ban staying.

"Hamza provided an out-of-competition sample on 17 January 2022 in Paarl, South Africa, in which the prohibited substance Furosemide - which is a specified substance in Section S5 of the 2022 WADA Prohibited List - was found," said a statement from the ICC on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

The ban however is backdated from March 2022 with Hamza set to return in December this year.

"In addition, all of Hamza's individual performances between 17 January and 22 March 2022 have been disqualified," said the ICC. The time period specified included a Test match against New Zealand that Hamza featured in in February.

"The ICC is committed to keeping cricket clean and has a zero-tolerance approach to doping. It is also a timely reminder to all international cricketers that they remain responsible for anything they put into their bodies, to know exactly what medication they are taking so as to ensure it does not contain a prohibited substance and does not result in an anti-doping rule violation," stated Alex Marshall, ICC's General Manager - Integrity Unit.