Australian women’s cricket star Megan Schutt has received a two-match ban due to a breach involving prescription medication. The ban, announced on Thursday, is unrelated to performance-enhancing drugs and comes as a disappointment for both the player and her team.

The 33-year-old bowler began her suspension during a T20 international against New Zealand, which was unfortunately washed out in Sydney. According to Cricket Australia (CA), Schutt failed to comply with the Sports Science and Sports Medicine guidelines regarding her medication.

In her statement, Schutt expressed regret:
“I fully accept the penalty handed down and apologise for failing to meet the standards expected of me. I’m sorry for the attention this has caused and appreciate the support I’ve received.”
She emphasized that the incident occurred out of competition and acknowledged her responsibility to adhere to the guidelines provided to players.

Cricket Australia clarified that Schutt’s breach was a result of “a single incidence which occurred while out of competition and was not for performance-enhancing purposes.” They assured continued support for Schutt while reinforcing the importance of compliance with established standards.

Notably, Schutt ranks among the top-10 all-time wicket-takers in women’s cricket, boasting 319 wickets across 244 internationals, including four Tests, 114 ODIs, and 126 T20s. She recently excelled during a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, taking 10 wickets.

Schutt is set to serve the second match of her ban when her Adelaide Strikers commence their WBBL campaign against the Melbourne Stars on 31 October.