The former Northamptonshire Steelbacks batsman Chris Lynn returned a positive drugs test after featuring in this season’s T20 Blast Finals Day, the Cricket Regulator announced.
The regulator confirmed that the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine was found in Lynn’s urine sample, and that he received a one-month suspension, which he has since served.
The 36-year-old top-scored with 39 runs in Northamptonshire’s semi-final win over Somerset before making four in the final against Hampshire at Edgbaston on 18 July.
Lynn admitted to using cocaine in the week before Finals Day, during the evening of 15 July and the early hours of 16 July.
However, he maintained that the usage amounted to “an out-of-competition violation” and was “unrelated to sporting performance,” a view supported by an expert assigned by the regulator.
The former Australia international served his suspension between 31 July and 30 August 2026.
He has since completed a substance abuse treatment programme, which reduced his potential suspension from three months to one month.
Lynn returned to play for Northamptonshire this year, having scored 880 T20 runs in two previous spells with the county in 2022 and 2023, and was also part of the Hampshire side beaten by Somerset in the 2025 Blast final.
Northamptonshire, which the regulator confirmed would receive no sanction for the positive test, have been approached for comment.
The Cricket Regulator is an independent body, established in December 2023, responsible for monitoring compliance with the game’s regulations.
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