Veteran Hampshire seamer Keith Barker has been suspended from all forms of cricket for 12 months after breaching anti-doping rules. The ban, backdated to July 4, 2024, followed a routine drugs test that detected Indapamide, a diuretic listed on WADA’s 2024 prohibited list.
The 38-year-old did not knowingly cheat or seek a performance advantage. Instead, he was prescribed Indapamide as a like-for-like replacement for his regular blood pressure medication. However, the drug was not declared to UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), and his request for a retrospective Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) was denied.
Both Barker and Hampshire described the issue as an “administrative error.” Despite the absence of intent, anti-doping regulations were clear, and Barker was provisionally suspended in July 2024. A hearing in March 2025 confirmed the 12-month sanction.
Barker opened up publicly following the ruling, calling the last nine months a “tense, gruelling process.” He expressed the mental toll of stepping away from the sport he has loved since childhood and thanked Hampshire Cricket, the PCA, and his support network for standing by him.
The left-arm seamer remains optimistic about his return. “I’m looking forward to getting back to playing the game that I love,” he said, urging young professionals to stay vigilant about anti-doping protocols.
Barker, who took 16 wickets at an average of 24.37 in the 2023–24 County Championship, will be eligible to return in the latter half of the 2025 season. Given his resilience, a strong comeback cannot be ruled out.
