Former New Zealand all-rounder Doug Bracewell has been handed a two-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine during a County Championship match in September 2025, despite having already stepped away from international cricket. The incident occurred while Bracewell was representing Essex County Cricket Club against Somerset County Cricket Club at Chelmsford.
According to reports, the 35-year-old admitted to using the banned substance after the opening day’s play and again before the start of day two. Notably, he had picked up two wickets on the first day. A sample collected on September 25 later returned a positive result, with the player officially notified in October. By December, Bracewell had announced his retirement from professional cricket.
Despite his retirement, the Cricket Regulator proceeded with disciplinary action, imposing a two-year ban starting from November 24, 2025, and running until November 23, 2027. Bracewell has accepted the sanction without contest.
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In an official statement, Essex confirmed the development and reiterated its stance on maintaining professional standards. While the club made it clear that it does not condone such behaviour, it also expressed its commitment to supporting Bracewell through rehabilitation in line with its internal policies.
Doug Bracewell tested positive for the substance in September 2025 and accepted the charge and a “history of substance abuse”.https://t.co/hBA8CzQq7Q
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) April 24, 2026
This marks the second such offence in Bracewell’s career. In 2024, he served a brief one-month suspension for a similar violation during New Zealand’s domestic T20 circuit, raising concerns about repeated breaches.
Doug Bracewell enjoyed a respectable international career between 2011 and 2023, representing New Zealand national cricket team in 28 Tests, 21 ODIs, and 20 T20Is. He claimed over 100 wickets and contributed close to 1,000 runs across formats. Coming from a strong cricketing lineage, he is the son of former international cricketer Brendon Bracewell and the cousin of current New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell.
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Reflecting on his journey, Bracewell described his career as a proud chapter, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to represent his country and remain part of the game for over a decade.
