Yusuf Pathan five-month doping ban: India

India suspended his former all rounder Yusuf Pathan for taking a banned stimulant

But the BCCI said it was satisfied with Pathan's explanation that the substance entered his body through medication while taking a cough syrup and "not as a performance-enhancing drug".

He was provisionally suspended in October and the board, convinced by the player's explanation, backdated the start of his five-month suspension to mid-August.

A statement said: "Having considered all of the evidence and taken expert external advice, the BCCI has accepted Mr Pathan's explanation ... and on that basis has agreed that a period of ineligibility of five months should apply, together with the disqualification of certain results."

Pathan, who also bowls off-spin, played 57 one-day internationals and 22 T20 games for India and has been an Indian Premier League regular. In 2014 he hit the IPL's fastest 50 off just 15 balls.

He is the second Indian cricketer to fail a doping test after left-arm paceman Pradeep Sangwan was banned in 2013 for 18 months.

Source:  skysports,com