Derbyshire County Cricket Club can confirm that batter, Tom Wood, has returned to playing cricket having served a six-month ban after a UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) test highlighted the prescribed use of a controlled substance.
The test in September 2021 returned a positive result for terbutaline, a controlled substance which is present in an asthma inhaler, which Wood has been prescribed in a therapeutic context by his GP since 2004.
Failing to declare such use to UKAD resulted in suspension from all cricket activities prior to the start of the 2022 season, pending a National Anti-Doping hearing, which was held in June.
Wood’s request for a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) was rejected by the UK Anti-Doping TUE Fairness Review Panel on the grounds that a TUE should already have been applied for prior to competitive play, and the decision referred to a National Anti-Doping hearing.
The 28-year-old’s ban, which was backdated to 8 January, expired on 7 July and the appeals process concluded on 15 July. Both the ECB and the review panel accepted that Wood had no intention of breaching anti-doping rules.
Derbyshire County Cricket Club and the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) have supported Wood throughout the process and have until now been unable to comment publicly regarding his absence.
Chief Executive, Ryan Duckett, said: “This has been an extremely challenging and distressing time for Tom, who has handled himself impeccably throughout the process.
“This was a genuine mistake, regarding an inhaler which Tom has been prescribed since he was a child. It came during a period of extensive and unprecedented Covid-19 protocols and all parties accept that there was no intention to breach any rules.
“The Club’s Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur, has made it clear to Tom that he is very much part of his plans this summer and I’m sure all Members and supporters will look forward to Tom’s return to first-team cricket.”
