England batsman Alex Hales is serving a 21-day ban from cricket for recreational drug use.
Reports have claimed that the 30-year-old, who is still in the running for a World Cup spot, was tested positive for a recreational drug in recent weeks.
This puts his possible World Cup selection in doubt after being named in England’s preliminary 15-man squad.
According to a report in the Guardian, he is serving a 21-day ban after a positive drug test. As a result, he pulled out of Nottinghamshire’s Royal London Cup campaign, shortly after the World Cup squad was announced, for ‘undisclosed personal reasons’.
An ECB spokesman said: We have a duty of confidentiality, therefore we are unable to provide any further comment.’
Twitter responded harshly to the news.
No sympathy what’s so ever for Alex Hales … 2nd time he has failed a recreational drugs Test !!!!!!!!!!! Should not be anywhere near the WC squad imo …
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 26, 2019
A reminder of when I felt Alex Hales was a wasting his talent and this was the best he could come back with. Who’s the idiot now then? https://t.co/eRW02b3YOI
— Nige M (@ManusMcmanus) April 26, 2019
12 months for scratching a cricket ball versus 21 days for a failed drugs test ????????
— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) April 26, 2019
Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images
