Netherlands quick Vivian Kingma will sit out for three months after returning a positive test for Benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite listed as a “Substance of Abuse” under the ICC’s anti-doping code. The sample was taken after the one-day international against the UAE in Utrecht on 12 May. The ban, back-dated to 15 August, could be cut to a single month if the 30-year-old finishes an ICC-approved treatment programme.
“I’ve let myself and the team down,” Kingma said in a short statement issued by the Dutch board. “I accept the sanction and will focus on getting the help I need.” High-performance manager Roland Lefebvre added: “Our priority is Vivian’s welfare. We’ll support him through the rehabilitation process while respecting the ICC’s regulations.”
Under the code, all matches played after the date of the test are struck from the record. Kingma therefore loses two ODIs against Nepal and Scotland, in which he managed figures of 2 for 122, and a T20I against Scotland that ended abruptly after only three deliveries.
ICC integrity manager Steve Richardson noted that the reduced-ban clause “is designed to encourage players to seek treatment rather than hide recreational use”. South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell have taken similar routes in the past year—their initial three-month suspensions were cut to 30 days once rehabilitation was completed.
For the Dutch side, already juggling injuries and limited fixtures, the loss is inconvenient rather than catastrophic. Kingma has not featured since June, and head coach Ryan Cook insists there is cover: “It hands an opportunity to a younger bowler. Selection remains merit-based.”
The incident again highlights the ICC’s broader push for education over punishment. While the on-field impact looks manageable, the episode serves as a reminder that off-field choices carry on-field consequences—even in the less-tightly televised corners of the World Cup League pathway.
