ICC Chief Executive charges Darren Lehmann under ICC Code of Conduct

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed today charged Australia batsman Darren Lehmann with a Level 3 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Officials.

"As a result of an overnight investigation and on the basis of reports received from Australia I have decided to charge Darren Lehmann with a breach of Level 3.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct," said Mr Speed.

"I am aware that Mr Lehmann has apologised for his actions and that the Sri Lanka team was reluctant to lay any formal charges. I have, however, carefully considered the situation and in the interests of eradicating racial vilification in international cricket I am bound to lay this charge."

The penalty for a Level 3 offence is between two and four Test Matches or four and eight ODI Matches.

An alleged breach of the Rules of Conduct can be reported by the umpires, the team managers, the Chief Executive officers of the participating boards or the ICC Chief Executive.

Level 3.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Officials reads as follows:

Using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.

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