Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Pradeep Sangwan was today slapped with an 18-month ban from cricket after being found guilty of consuming a banned anabolic steroid by the BCCI's Anti-Doping Tribunal. The ban on the 23-year-old Delhi cricketer has been imposed with retrospective effect from May this year when the IPL took place. "The anti-doping case initiated against the Player Pradeep Sangwan by the BCCI before the Anti-Doping Tribunal constituted under the BCCI Anti-Doping Code, was concluded on 1st October 2013, and the written Decision issued by the Anti-Doping Tribunal was received on 18th October 2013," the BCCI said in a statement.

"The Tribunal has found that the Player has committed an Anti-Doping Violation under Article 2.1 of the Code for the presence of the Prohibited Substance Stanozolol, an Anabolic Steroid," it added. The tribunal heard him out on October 1 during which he claimed that he consumed the steroid accidentally when his gym instructor offered it to him as a remedy for fat reduction. Sangwan is only the second cricketer in the history of IPL after Pakistani speedster Mohammed Asif to have been found guilty of consuming banned drugs.

"The Tribunal has declared the player ineligible for a period of 18 months, commencing on 6 May 2013 and expiring at midnight on 5 November 2014, from participating in any capacity in any event or activity (other than authorised anti-doping education or rehabilitation programmes) or competition authorised, organised or sanctioned by the BCCI or any of the other bodies referred to in Article 10.10.1 of the Rules," the BCCI statement read. Sangwan, who played a stellar role in India's victorious U-19 World Cup campaign back in 2008 represented Kolkata Knight Riders during the last two editions of the IPL. He has taken 123 wickets in 38 first-class matches. Sangwan, who hails from Najafgarh, played two matches in the IPL against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He could not get a single wicket during the two games.