Australian pace bowler Megan Schutt has been suspended for two matches following a breach of guidelines related to prescription medication. The violation occurred while Schutt was out of competition and was not connected to the use of performance-enhancing or illicit substances, according to Cricket Australia.

The governing body announced the sanction on Thursday, clarifying that the incident involved a failure to comply with Sports Science and Sports Medicine guidelines concerning prescribed medication. The two-match suspension includes both international and domestic cricket fixtures.

Originally, the ban was set to cover the final match of the Twenty20 International (T20I) series against New Zealand, as well as the Adelaide Strikers' opening game of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season. However, the last T20I between Australia and New Zealand was washed out, meaning Schutt will now only miss the WBBL fixture against the Melbourne Stars.

Cricket Australia emphasized that the breach was a single incident unrelated to any performance enhancement. The organization also said it is committed to supporting Schutt while reinforcing the professional standards expected of players representing the game.

In response to the suspension, Schutt expressed regret for the breach and accepted the penalty. She apologized for the attention the matter has attracted and thanked supporters for their understanding.

Schutt, one of Australia’s most experienced cricketers at age 33, will now serve her suspension starting immediately, missing a key domestic match but remaining eligible for future international selection once the suspension concludes.