The years 2000-2001 wasn't the one for scrapbook memories for former South African cricketer, Herschelle Gibbs. He was involved in the match fixing scandal with then-captain, Hansie Cronje. This was only exacerbated by claims that he was caught smoking marijuana.
South African cricket was hit by a new scandal after five members of the team touring the West Indies, as well as the team's physiotherapist, were caught smoking dagga.
Herschelle Gibbs; Andre Nel; Paul Adams; Roger Telemachus; Justin Kemp and physio, Craig Smith were each fined R10 000 by an on-tour misconduct committee. According to United Cricket Board (UCB) president, Percy Sonn, they were given a "moerse" (very serious) warning after they admitted smoking dagga on 10 April as part of the celebrations for winning the Test series after the fourth Test in Antigua.
UCB chief executive, Gerald Majola, who was in the West Indies, had called for an urgent meeting with the team to discuss the matter. Majola said the men should've known they were ambassadors for their country and were in the public eye.
He said the country had "just come out of the Hansie saga and can't be hit by negative things like this, which hamper the image of the team and UCB and it of course detracts from their very good performances."
He said he had met with team management and was due to meet the team. He said the culprits could possibly face further action because the matter would be referred to the UCB executive committee.
He said the incident happened after a victory. The men were out celebrating and, "like normal human beings," were "trying new things."
A UCB statement said the accused had all admitted their guilt and that the misconduct committee (made up of team management and senior players) accepted that this was a one-off incident.
The accused had all expressed remorse, apologised and gave an assurance that it would not happen again.
"I was very disturbed when I received the report, particularly because one of our management staff was involved. But we have seen the sentence handed down by the misconduct committee and concur with it," Sonn said.
Sport and Recreation Minister Ngconde Balfour's spokesperson, Graham Abrahams, denied any knowledge of the incident. When asked why the authorities had been informed at such a late stage, Abrahams said: "You have to refer that question to the cricket authorities."
The incident has again put the world sporting spotlight on the behaviour of the South African cricket team, just as the Cronje affair was beginning to slip from the public consciousness.
Gibbs is no stranger to controversy after his six-month international ban following the Cronje affair. He was set to face further sanction when he returned home from the Caribbean.
The opening batsman still had a suspended sentence hanging over his head after he was found guilty of nightclubbing until the early hours of the morning on the eve of a one-day international against Australia on 14 April 2000.
Gibbs was sentenced on 12 May 2000 to a fine of R15 000 and a three-international-match suspension, with R10 000 of the fine and the three-match ban suspended for one year on condition he not be found guilty of "unbecoming conduct" in that period.
The Cape Town incident took place on 14 April with his disciplinary hearing subsequently held on 12 May. The Antigua incident took place on 10 April 2001. It is difficult to imagine conduct more suited to the qualification "unbecoming" than smoking an illegal drug and in which case the question arises as why Gibbs' suspended sentence didn't kick in.
According to UCB spokesperson, Bronwyn Wilkinson, "The suspended sentence imposed on Herschelle Gibbs following an incident in Cape Town in April 2000 may not be invoked by the on-tour Misconduct Committee of the South African cricket team in the West Indies as it was not handed down by that committee. It was handed down by a Disciplinary Committee convened by the General Council of the UCBSA and thus the tour Misconduct Committee does not have the authority to invoke it."
UCB director of cricket operations, Brian Basson, said Gibbs would face the music on his return. "This amounts to a similar offence of which Gibbs has been found guilty within that period. The suspended part of that sentence must now come into effect and he will be fined the additional R10 000 and face the three-international-match ban."
Had the suspended sentence been effected immediately, Gibbs would've missed the fifth Test and the first two one-day internationals (he made 104 in the second one-dayer) but the sentence was handed down by a disciplinary committee convened by the UCB's general council, which would've to invoke it.
In the three games following the disciplinary hearing in Antigua, Gibbs scored 18 and 51 in the fifth Test match, 8 in the first ODI and 104 in the second ODI.
In the space of a year, Gibbs had been disciplined for carousing in a night club; banned for six months for his involvement in the match-fixing scandal and now fined for smoking marijuana. Although he was in the best form of his life in the Caribbean, the streak of irresponsibility which has dogged his career doesn't appear to have been tamed.
Cricketers are role models. They therefore set an example for the youth. This incident isn't the way to go. Gibbs was clearly one not to follow. A constant troublemaker will always find ways to destroy themselves (figuratively speaking). It can be hard to find the road to redemption.