India, April 25 -- Former New Zealand fast-bowling allrounder Doug Bracewell had admitted last year that he had taken cocaine during his team's last county championship match of the season in September.

Playing for Essex against Somerset, a game which his team eventually won, Bracewell admitted he had taken the banned drug hours before day two, after taking two wickets on day one. His drug test came positive on September 25, day two of the game, and he was notified of it the next month. Then, in late December, he retired from international cricket.

But that doesn't matter, the authorities involved with the whole drug-testing process have still decided to ban him for two years.

"Essex can confirm that Doug Bracewell failed a routine dru...