Australian pacer Megan Schutt has been suspended for two matches by Cricket Australia for breaching prescription medication use requirements, ruling her out of the final match in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand and the opening game of the domestic Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season.
Cricket Australia confirmed the suspension in a statement cited by the ICC, explaining that Schutt failed to adhere to the Sports Science and Sports Medicine guidelines concerning prescription medication. The breach involved a single incident that occurred out of competition and was not related to performance enhancement.
The ban covers all international and domestic cricket matches. Cricket Australia stated it will continue to provide appropriate support to Schutt and emphasised the importance of maintaining standards and responsibilities for all players representing the sport.
Schutt promptly accepted the suspension and issued a personal statement: “I fully accept the penalty handed down and apologise for failing to meet the standards expected of me. I am sorry for the attention this has caused and appreciate the support I have received. While this occurred out of competition and was not performance related, I understand that I am responsible for following the Sports Science and Sports Medicine Guidelines, which players receive regular education on, and I should have adhered to these guidelines.”
Australia currently lead the T20I series against New Zealand 2-0 and are aiming for a series sweep in Sydney on Thursday. Although Schutt has not yet played in the T20I matches, the 33-year-old was in strong form during the recent ODI series against Bangladesh, taking 10 wickets across three games as part of the ongoing ICC Women’s Championship.