Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has suspended cricketers Wesley Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta with immediate effect for allegedly breaching anti-doping rules. The duo will not be able to play any cricket till there is a hearing.

Mavuta has played 26 games across formats for Zimbabwe with his most recent appearance coming on Sunday (December 17) against Ireland. Madhevere, on the other hand, has played almost 100 matches for his country and wasn't picked for the just-concluded ODI series against Ireland.

Dave Houghton resigns as Zimbabwe head coach after failure to qualify for T20 World Cup 2024

Madhevere and Mavuta both have been charged under the ZC Code of Conduct for players and team officials.

"The concerned players, Wesley Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta, both tested positive for a banned recreational drug in an out-of-competition case recorded during a recent in-house doping test. Both tested positive for a banned recreational drug in an out-of-competition case recorded during a recent in-house doping test," ZC said in a statement.

This comes as a huge blow after coach Dave Houghton resigned from his post and Zimbabwe has started a major inquest after failing to reach next year’s T20 World Cup and being beaten in the Ireland series.