LONDON, June 2: Keith Piper has had his contract with Warwickshire terminated after his recent positive test for cannabis. The wicket-keeper was already banned for the rest of the season after testing positive for cannabis during a game with Glamorgan in April. He was playing on a short-term contract that lasted only until the end of season, during which time he would be banned.

A statement issued by Warwickshire said: “His future with the club will be reviewed with the rest of the playing staff at the end of the season.

“Now the focus is on Keith’s rehabilitation programme to which Keith and the club are fully committed.

“We are aware of Keith’s positive response to a difficult situation and we are confident that the rehabilitation will be successful.”

That statement contrasts starkly with Warwickshire’s stance immediately after the decision was announced, when chief executive Dennis Amiss said they would stand by the player.

He had said that although they in no way excused drugs misuse, the club considered it “at the lowest level”.

Last week, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) disciplinary panel banned Piper until Sept 30, five days after the current English season is due to end.

That punishment could have brought a premature end to Piper’s career as he is already 35.

If he is to return to cricket, he would have to undergo drug counselling, take another drugs test before returning to the game and face six more tests in the following 18 months.

It is not the first time he has served a drugs suspension.

Back in 1997 Piper failed an in-house drugs test for which he served a one-match ban.

His fellow Warwickshire players Paul Smith, now retired, and Graham Wagg have also served drugs-related bans.

Last season Wagg was given a 15-month ban by the ECB after testing positive for cocaine and, as a consequence, saw Warwickshire terminate his contract.

Piper’s former Warwickshire captain Dermot Reeve, the retired England international, admitted last month that he was fighting a cocaine addiction.

Piper played more than 450 games for the club but did not appear in the Championship side last summer when Warwickshire won the title.

One of his career highlights was batting at the other end when Brian Lara made his world record 501 against Durham in 1994 — the pair shared a stand of 322 of which Piper’s share was 116 not out.

—AFP