Northants offer support to Chris Lynn in wake of Finals Day drugs test failure
Northants have offered their support to Chris Lynn following the news the Australian failed a drugs test on the day of the club's Vitality Blast Finals Day triumph at Edgbaston.
The Cricket Regulator announced on Thursday that the 36-year-old had already served a one-match suspension, having admitted to taking cocaine.
Originally banned for three months, that was reduced to one as Lynn agreed to 'complete a substance of abuse treatment programme', which he has now done.
In the ruling released by the Cricket Regulator, it was stated that Lynn admitted to taking cocaine on the night of Wednesday, July 15.
That was the day of the club's quarter-final win over Gloucestershire, in which Lynn played, and just three days before the Steelbacks' Finals Day appearance.
The former Australia white ball international went on to play in both the semi-final win over Somerset and final success against Hampshire Hawks, scoring 43 runs across both games.
He was chosen to provide an 'In Competition' urine sample over the course of Finals Day, and that sample 'produced an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for the presence of cocaine's Metabolite, benzoylecgonine'.
Lynn was charged with the offence in September and accepted guilt.
The agreement was then made for the three-month suspension to cut to one with Lynn undertaking a substance abuse programme, and he is now free to play again.
Northants initially said they would be making no comment, but on Friday they issued a statement.
It read: "Northamptonshire County Cricket Club acknowledges the verdict released by the Cricket Regulator on Thursday afternoon concerning Chris Lynn.
"The club has supported Chris throughout this process and remains committed to supporting him in the months ahead.
"Having now served his suspension, we look forward to seeing him back on the cricket field this winter."
Lynn will be playing in the Big Bash League next month, having signed a deal with the Melbourne Renegades.
The 2026 season was Lynn's third as a Steelbacks T20 player, having also played for the club in 2022 and 2023.
Lynn was the team's leading scorer in the Blast last summer, scoring 518 runs at an average of 47.09, with a strike-rate of 169.83.
The big-hitting opener scored two more centuries, including a career-best 117 against Glamorgan, to take his tally for the club to five.
He suffered an ankle injury in the last-eight win over Gloucestershire on July 15.
He was hit by a yorker bowled by South African quick Duan Jansen and had to retire hurt when on 18, but he overcame the ankle injury suffered that night to play on Finals Day.