Doping ban uncertainty is 'stressing, depressing': Russell

Barbados, July 27 (ANI): West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has admitted that uncertainty over his potential two-year ban for allegedly missing three doping tests is `depressing` and making him stressed out. Earlier in March, the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) charged Russell with violating the `anti-doping whereabouts` rule after he missed three doping tests within a 12-month period. The 28-year-old revealed that he had been undergoing a mental strain since the reports of possible two-year suspension surfaced. Russell, however, admitted he is getting constant support from his teammates, something which is helping him in coping with the recent stress. "It's not easy, honestly, it's tough. When I cross the rope, I definitely block it off my head but then when you go back to your room and you know you have to face reality and know that something is going on like that, it's kind of stressing and depressing. But I have an amazing bunch of guys around me. So they keep me occupied, they keep me laughing. I just think that is a very good thing to do while going through something like that," Russell was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. According to the World Anti-Doping Agency rules, if an athlete misses three drug checks within a 12-month period then it will be considered positive. The 27-year-old, who was a member of the squad that won the 2016 WT20, is currently preparing for his side Jamaica Tallawahs's last two games of the league stage of the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL). (ANI)