West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell may face an extended ban

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell may face an extension to his one-year ban for a doping whereabouts rule violation. Jamaica’s anti-doping commission (JADCO) has launched an appeal to impose the maximum two-year suspension on the 28-year-old Russell, who was banned in January for one year.

JADCO chief executive Carey Brown said on Wednesday that his organisation had filed an appeal with Jamaica’s five-member anti-doping Appeals Tribunal. ‘(JADCO) has appealed,’ Brown said as per the quote in Daily Mail.

Russell, two-times Twenty20 World Cup winner, had committed the violation a year ago after registering three filing failures in 2015. That also constituted a failed drugs test under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules. In his absence, the West Indies were humiliated at home in the one-day international series against England where they were whitewashed.

An independent disciplinary panel in February had ruled that the 27-year-old would serve 12 months suspension after violating anti-doping whereabouts regulations three times over a 12-month period — an offence which equates to a failed doping test.

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But it is understood that the Carey Brown-led JADCO body is looking to hand over a stronger sentence to the Jamaican all-rounder with a preliminary hearing having taken place at the Jamaica Conference Centre on Wednesday morning.

Justice Carl Harrison is reportedly chairing the panel with Patrick Foster said to be continuing his role as Russell’s attorney and Lackston Robinson presenting JADCO’c case.

The all-rounder played in five domestic tournaments around the world, including the Indian Premier League, for Kolkata Knight Riders, Nottinghamshire in the T20 Blast and as part of the Jamaica Tallawahs team who won the Caribbean Premier League. The Kolkata Knight Riders will miss Russell in their 2017 campaign, for he has been their match-winner on many occasions. Islamabad United, who Russell was due to play for in the Pakistan Super League took England fast bowler Steven Finn as his replacement for the tournament.