Dubai, Jan 20 (IANS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday suspended Galle International Stadium curator Jayananda Warnaweera for three years after he failed to cooperate with their Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in an ongoing investigation.
Warnaweera was charged with an offence under Article 2.4.6 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code which relates to "failing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with any reasonable investigation carried out by the ACU in relation to possible breaches of the Anti-Corruption Code, including failure to provide information and/or documentation requested by the ACU that may be relevant to such investigation".
In particular, Warnaweera failed, on two separate occasions, to attend a scheduled interview with the ACU in relation to an ongoing investigation and failed to provide documents required from him in connection with the investigation pursuant to a demand issued under Article 4.3 of the code.
Warnaweera also failed to respond in any manner to the charge and, pursuant to Article 4.8.1 of the code, he is consequently deemed to have accepted that he committed the offence charged, waived his right to a hearing, and acceded to the imposition of a sanction within the range specified in the code.
"The ICC takes no pleasure in imposing a suspension but this decision clearly illustrates what the code means to the ICC and how seriously we take matters that relate to corruption," ACU chairman Ronnie Flanagan said.
"It should also act as a reminder to participants of the need to comply with their obligations under the code. The ICC has a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption and it will not hesitate in taking such decisions in its endeavour to eliminate this menace from the sport."
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been informed of the decision. All breaches of Articles 2.4.1 to 2.4.6 carry a minimum suspension of six months and a maximum of five years.
