April 24 (Reuters) - Former ⁠New Zealand international Doug Bracewell has ⁠been handed a two-year suspension after testing ‌positive for cocaine before his retirement from all cricket last year, England's Cricket Regulator said on Friday.

The 35-year-old ​all-rounder, who retired from all ⁠forms of cricket ⁠in December after finishing his career in England ⁠with Essex, ‌played 69 times for New Zealandacross formats, including 28 tests.

Bracewell tested ⁠positive for cocaine and its metabolite, benzoylecgonine, ​in an ‌in‑competition sample taken on September 25 last ⁠year, the ​regulator said.

Cocaine is classified as a prohibited substance under the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) ⁠anti-doping regulations.

Essex confirmed in a ​statement that he had failed a drug test.

"While the Club does not condone Bracewell's behaviour, we ⁠are committed to supporting him through rehabilitation in line with our policies and procedures," Essex added.

Bracewell was also sanctioned in New Zealand ​in 2024 after testing ⁠positive for cocaine following a domestic Twenty20 match, ​for which he served a ‌one-month suspension after completing ​a substance abuse treatment programme.