Published on 12:50 PM, May 08, 2017

Anti-doping authority drops appeal on length of Russell ban

West Indian allrounder Andre Russell bats for Sydney Thunder during the Big Bash League. Image taken from the Facebook page of Sydney Thunder

Jamaica's anti-doping authority has withdrawn its appeal over the one-year ban received by West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell for breaches of the whereabouts rule, according to court documents seen by Reuters.

Russell was given a one-year ban on Jan. 31 after he failed to file the necessary paperwork on his availability for drug testing three times in 2015, which constituted a failed test according to World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) rules.

The Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) appealed against the one-year ban and were seeking a two-year suspension at a hearing scheduled to begin on May 8 in Kingston.

According to the documents seen by Reuters the anti-doping body has withdrawn their appeal.

Russell's lawyers, headed by Patrick Foster, had also launched a cross-appeal to overturn the ban, but that action was also withdrawn the documents showed.

Neither Foster, nor JADCO's attorneys were immediately available for comment.

JADCO, however, have called a media conference for Monday.