On Wednesday: Australian Twenty20 club said, West Indies all-rounder player Andre Russell has been banned from all cricket for a year over a doping (drug) code violation.

His punishment was handed down by the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission on Tuesday.

"We are devastated for Andre,” said Sydney Thunder general manager Nick Cummins, in confirming the outcome.We haven't seen the written judgment, but given the circumstances surrounding the filing failures we thought he had a good chance of being exonerated.“We will monitor the appeals process and assess our options. 

According to WADA's Whereabouts rules, elite athletes must facilitate for one hour for the drug test.Russell played the first five games of the Big Bash League this year for Thunder before withdrawing due to injury and being replaced by international teammate Carlos Brathwaite.Sydney Thunder director of cricket Mike Hussey said he felt for Russell.

“I feel for him. He's been going through a really tough time of late with all the 'whereabouts' saga going on and he's been waiting to hear the finding of that hearing,” Hussey told the Cricket Australia website.“I want him to go away and get better physically but also mentally.”

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