ECB and Surrey CCC release joint statement following inquest into the death of Tom Maynard

The ECB and Surrey CCC issued the following joint statement following today’s inquest into the death of Tom Maynard.

In the light of today’s verdict, ECB and Surrey CCC would like to re-iterate that this incident was a terrible human tragedy and again extend our condolences to the Maynard family and to Tom Maynard’s many friends and colleagues within the professional game.

While the ECB accepts that recreational drug use is a part of modern society, we do not condone it and will take all reasonable steps to prevent its use within the game. We also believe we have a responsibility to educate all our players and are committed to supporting any player who needs help in this area.

Surrey CCC began its own investigations into conduct at the end of last season and introduced a team-wide anti-drug policy which allplayers and management are required to abide by. Working in partnership with ECB and PCA further recommendations have been initiated.

The ECB Board hasrecently agreed to develop an out of competition testing programme to encompass recreational drugs, in co-operation with the PCA.

These measures will supplement ECB’s existing anti-doping programme which involves in and out of competition testing through UK Anti-Doping in compliance with the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) Code and financial support which ECB provides to PCA for player education and support programmes.

The ECB’s testing programme applies to all registered County players and up to 200 tests are carried out on average each year. This approximates to around 35-40 per cent of the overall number of registered professional players. Last year one player (Abdur Rehman of Somerset) tested positive for cannabis following an in-competition test.

England players are tested in addition as part of the ICC’s own anti-doping programme for all international cricketers which are also WADA compliant. To date, no England player has tested positive under these programmes.

ECB and Surrey CCC would like to end by echoing the statement issued by the Maynard family earlier today. The results of this inquest do not define Tom Maynard or alter in any way the tragedy of his passing. Tom was a great man and a great cricketer and will be remembered forever by everyone who had the privilege to know him.