Campbell set to return in August after suspension is reduced

Jamaica and West Indies batsman John Campbell is set to return to competitive action in August this year after a reduction in his suspension for a world anti-doping code violation.

The 30-year-old left-handed opener and part-time off-spinner received news last Thursday that his four-year suspension from the sport was reduced to 22 months following a successful appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.

Campbell was slapped with the suspension two years ago after a three-member independent panel of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission found him guilty of evading, refusing, or failing to submit to a blood sample collection for testing for banned substances in April 2022 at his home.

The West Indies Players' Association, headed by former Jamaica captain and West Indies batsman Wavell Hinds, supported Campbell in his appeal of the decision to the CAS and hailed the court's decision.

"The ruling found that Campbell did not deliberately try to evade sample collection by doping control officers," a news release from the West Indies Players' Association stated yesterday. "John will be eligible to return to competitive cricket in August 2024."

WIPA and other related sports bodies protested earlier this month about the length of time it had taken for CAS to hand down its ruling in the appeal from Campbell after its unprecedented sixth postponement.

"WIPA is pleased with the delivery of a verdict and the reduction of the ban," Hinds said. "We are happy for John, and we would like to express sincere gratitude to all those who assisted with getting us a resolution on the matter.

"Nevertheless, we are very dissatisfied with the numerous postponements, the prolonged wait for a verdict to be handed down by CAS, and the inefficiencies in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) process, and we welcome the resolution of such injustices in the very near future."

Campbell had his international career interrupted by the suspension after he played 20 Tests, six one-day internationals, and two Twenty20 Internationals for West Indies between 2019 and 2022.