Ireland batter Rebecca Stokell has admitted to an anti-doping rule violation after a sample collected during the 2026 T20 World Cup returned an adverse finding for a specified substance.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) informed her of the alleged breach, and she accepted the violation. The matter was linked to her use of prescription medication. Cricket Ireland described it as an inadvertent breach of reporting requirements and said the substance was non-performance enhancing. Stokell has accepted a voluntary suspension while the disciplinary process continues.
The sample was collected during an in-competition test on June 23, 2026, when Stokell played for Ireland against Sri Lanka in Bristol. Ireland lost that T20 World Cup match by nine wickets. The ICC later notified her that the sample had returned an adverse finding for a Specified Substance. After receiving the notification, Stokell admitted the violation and agreed to a voluntary suspension.
The suspension took effect on October 23, 2026, pending the outcome of the disciplinary process. The notification followed the sample collected during the tournament, and the suspension remains in place while the disciplinary process determines the outcome of the case. The ICC announced the matter in a media release on November 2, 2026, and said it would not comment further until the case is resolved.
The ICC confirmed the details in its statement, saying: “Following the receipt of the notification, Stokell has admitted the violation, which arose from her use of prescription medication, and accepted a voluntary suspension effective 23 October 2026 pending the outcome of the disciplinary process.” The council said the sample had returned an adverse finding for a Specified Substance. It also confirmed that Stokell had admitted the violation and accepted the suspension. The ICC added that it would make no further comment until the matter had been finally resolved.
Cricket Ireland described the incident as an “inadvertent breach of the reporting requirements” and said the substance was non-performance enhancing. Stokell accepted responsibility for her mistake and explained that she had entered the suspension voluntarily.
She said: “I fully accept my mistake and have voluntarily entered into a period of suspension ahead of the findings being returned.” She added: “While this was not performance related in any way, I understand that I am responsible for following the anti-doping guidelines and I hope that I can be back playing for Ireland as soon as possible.”
Stokell, 26, made her international debut in 2017 and has since played 29 ODIs and 80 T20Is for Ireland. She featured in all five of Ireland’s matches at the 2026 T20 World Cup, scoring 40 runs at an average of 10. Her highest score was 16 not out. Ireland recorded one win from five games, beating West Indies by six wickets in their final league match. Earlier, they had lost to Sri Lanka by nine wickets in Bristol, the match during which Stokell provided the sample linked to the case.
Stokell’s most recent assignment before the announcement was Ireland’s ODI series in England in September 2026, which the hosts won 3-0. Across her ODI career, she has scored 468 runs, including three half-centuries. In T20Is, she has made 908 runs and recorded one half-century. Her international career began in 2017 and includes 29 ODI appearances and 80 T20I appearances. The case is now awaiting the outcome of the ICC’s disciplinary process.
Stokell has admitted the violation connected to prescription medication and has been under voluntary suspension since October 23, 2026. Cricket Ireland called the reporting breach inadvertent and said the substance was not performance enhancing. The ICC will not comment further until the matter is resolved.
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Source: femalecricket.com
