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Coroner calls for more drug testing in cricket following Tom Maynard's death Coroner calls for more drug testing in cricket following Tom Maynard's death
(7 months later)
A coroner has called for more stringent drug testing in cricket after an inquest heard that Tom Maynard, a promising Surrey batsman tipped as a future England star, had taken cocaine almost daily for several months before he was struck by a train as he was fleeing police following a night out.A coroner has called for more stringent drug testing in cricket after an inquest heard that Tom Maynard, a promising Surrey batsman tipped as a future England star, had taken cocaine almost daily for several months before he was struck by a train as he was fleeing police following a night out.
Fiona Wilcox spoke out after a jury at Westminster coroner's court returned a verdict of accidental death for the 23-year-old, who stepped on a live rail before being struck by the train in south-west London in the early hours of 18 June last year.Fiona Wilcox spoke out after a jury at Westminster coroner's court returned a verdict of accidental death for the 23-year-old, who stepped on a live rail before being struck by the train in south-west London in the early hours of 18 June last year.
The inquest heard that toxicology testing of hairs taken from Maynard's body showed signs of the drug ecstasy, as well as residues of cocaine consistent with almost daily use for the entire three and a half months the hairs had been growing. The young cricketer was also four times over the alcohol drink driving limit following a night out with Surrey team-mates after a game.The inquest heard that toxicology testing of hairs taken from Maynard's body showed signs of the drug ecstasy, as well as residues of cocaine consistent with almost daily use for the entire three and a half months the hairs had been growing. The young cricketer was also four times over the alcohol drink driving limit following a night out with Surrey team-mates after a game.
Wilcox asked a Surrey official attending the inquest if the club used hair analysis to detect illegal drugs. After being toldit did not, she said: "I wonder if it could begin, and should begin more generally in the sports world."Wilcox asked a Surrey official attending the inquest if the club used hair analysis to detect illegal drugs. After being toldit did not, she said: "I wonder if it could begin, and should begin more generally in the sports world."
The inquest heard that Maynard was driving to his girlfriend's house when police stopped his Mercedes in Wandsworth, south-west London. He abandoned the car to flee on foot and is believed to have tried to escape across a raised section of the London tube network.The inquest heard that Maynard was driving to his girlfriend's house when police stopped his Mercedes in Wandsworth, south-west London. He abandoned the car to flee on foot and is believed to have tried to escape across a raised section of the London tube network.
The jury heard from one forensic scientist, Fiona Perry, who said the cocaine residues in Maynard's body were sufficient to indicate "an abuse level of cocaine use". His body tissues contained alcohol equivalent to a blood level of 240 micrograms per 100ml, four times the drink-drive limit.The jury heard from one forensic scientist, Fiona Perry, who said the cocaine residues in Maynard's body were sufficient to indicate "an abuse level of cocaine use". His body tissues contained alcohol equivalent to a blood level of 240 micrograms per 100ml, four times the drink-drive limit.
The Home Office pathologist who carried out the postmortem, Dr Simon Poole, told the inquest the young cricketer's body had burns to the right foot, ankle and shin consistent with standing on a live rail. Poole said he could not say whether this or the train impact caused the death.The Home Office pathologist who carried out the postmortem, Dr Simon Poole, told the inquest the young cricketer's body had burns to the right foot, ankle and shin consistent with standing on a live rail. Poole said he could not say whether this or the train impact caused the death.
The Cardiff-born cricketer, whose father is the former Glamorgan and England batsman Matthew Maynard, joined Surrey from Glamorgan in 2011 and was seen as a hugely promising prospect. He joined the England Lions, the second-string national team, on a tour of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the start of last year and was tipped for full international duty.The Cardiff-born cricketer, whose father is the former Glamorgan and England batsman Matthew Maynard, joined Surrey from Glamorgan in 2011 and was seen as a hugely promising prospect. He joined the England Lions, the second-string national team, on a tour of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the start of last year and was tipped for full international duty.
The jury were told by two of Maynard's team-mates that they had gone out drinking on the Sunday evening, after a defeat to Kent in the Twenty20 county series. They drank beer at the home in Wandsworth that Maynard shared with the then Surrey captain, Rory Hamilton-Brown, before drinking at least four pints of beer in a local pub and going by taxi to a Mayfair nightclub, Aura, where they drank numerous vodka and Red Bull mixes. They then returned home to drink more vodka, bringing back three sisters they met in the nightclub.The jury were told by two of Maynard's team-mates that they had gone out drinking on the Sunday evening, after a defeat to Kent in the Twenty20 county series. They drank beer at the home in Wandsworth that Maynard shared with the then Surrey captain, Rory Hamilton-Brown, before drinking at least four pints of beer in a local pub and going by taxi to a Mayfair nightclub, Aura, where they drank numerous vodka and Red Bull mixes. They then returned home to drink more vodka, bringing back three sisters they met in the nightclub.
"I would say he was pretty intoxicated," said Hamilton-Brown when asked to describe Maynard's state at around 1.30am, when he last saw him."I would say he was pretty intoxicated," said Hamilton-Brown when asked to describe Maynard's state at around 1.30am, when he last saw him.
Maynard was later seen leaving the house around 3.30am. His girlfriend, Carly Baker, who wept through some of the evidence, told the inquest he phoned her saying he was coming to her home. She tried to dissuade himfrom driving while drunk.Maynard was later seen leaving the house around 3.30am. His girlfriend, Carly Baker, who wept through some of the evidence, told the inquest he phoned her saying he was coming to her home. She tried to dissuade himfrom driving while drunk.
"He sounded very down and depressed on the phone," Baker said. "For me to say 'what's wrong' is quite unusual. It was like he needed me. He said 'you're the only thing that makes me happy', and he said it three times.""He sounded very down and depressed on the phone," Baker said. "For me to say 'what's wrong' is quite unusual. It was like he needed me. He said 'you're the only thing that makes me happy', and he said it three times."
The inquest was told that Surrey had disciplined Maynard after an incident about a week earlier in which he sustained a black eye and a shoulder injury when he was hit by a car while drinking in Brighton. Hamilton-Brown sobbed into his hands as the jury was read a letter to Maynard's parents from the Surrey club physiotherapist, Alex Tysoe. It described the cricketer as "gentle, funny and intelligent" and without "a single arrogant bone in his body".The inquest was told that Surrey had disciplined Maynard after an incident about a week earlier in which he sustained a black eye and a shoulder injury when he was hit by a car while drinking in Brighton. Hamilton-Brown sobbed into his hands as the jury was read a letter to Maynard's parents from the Surrey club physiotherapist, Alex Tysoe. It described the cricketer as "gentle, funny and intelligent" and without "a single arrogant bone in his body".
Hamilton-Brown and another club colleague out on the night in question, Jade Dernbach, said they had never known that Maynard used cocaine, something which would bring an automatic two-year ban from cricket. Dernbach described the drug-testing regime in the sport as mixed, saying players faced anything from one to 10 tests over a year.Two police officers in an unmarked car saw Maynard's Mercedes pull out from a side road in Wandsworth at speed. They followed him down another side road, where the way was blocked by a barrier.Hamilton-Brown and another club colleague out on the night in question, Jade Dernbach, said they had never known that Maynard used cocaine, something which would bring an automatic two-year ban from cricket. Dernbach described the drug-testing regime in the sport as mixed, saying players faced anything from one to 10 tests over a year.Two police officers in an unmarked car saw Maynard's Mercedes pull out from a side road in Wandsworth at speed. They followed him down another side road, where the way was blocked by a barrier.
Constable David Wishart told the inquest he flashed the car's blue lights and shouted,: "Police officers, mate, wait there for a minute,", only for Maynard to abandon the still-running car and flee on foot.Constable David Wishart told the inquest he flashed the car's blue lights and shouted,: "Police officers, mate, wait there for a minute,", only for Maynard to abandon the still-running car and flee on foot.
The police tried to follow but lost the cricketer, whose identity they discovered from a BlackBerry phone left in the car with his Facebook profile open. Around 50 minutes later, just after 5am, the first eastbound train of the day from Wimbledon station ran over Maynard's prone body.The police tried to follow but lost the cricketer, whose identity they discovered from a BlackBerry phone left in the car with his Facebook profile open. Around 50 minutes later, just after 5am, the first eastbound train of the day from Wimbledon station ran over Maynard's prone body.
In a statement read to the inquest the driver, Martin Hopping, said he initially thought he had seen sacks of ballast by the track before realising, too late to stop the train in time, that it was a person.In a statement read to the inquest the driver, Martin Hopping, said he initially thought he had seen sacks of ballast by the track before realising, too late to stop the train in time, that it was a person.
Maynard was lying "perfectly still" across all four tracks with no sign of consciousness when the train ran over him, Hopping said.Maynard was lying "perfectly still" across all four tracks with no sign of consciousness when the train ran over him, Hopping said.
Maynard's body was found between Wimbledon Park and Southfield stations, on a raised section of track by Wimbledon Park. It was not known where he got access to the track.Maynard's body was found between Wimbledon Park and Southfield stations, on a raised section of track by Wimbledon Park. It was not known where he got access to the track.
Maynard's family were not at the inquest. In a brief statement read to the jury, Matthew Maynard described his son as "basically sports mad", someone who excelled when younger at football and rugby as well as cricket.Maynard's family were not at the inquest. In a brief statement read to the jury, Matthew Maynard described his son as "basically sports mad", someone who excelled when younger at football and rugby as well as cricket.
The statement added: "It's important that Tom is remembered as a person, not just as a cricketer."The statement added: "It's important that Tom is remembered as a person, not just as a cricketer."
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