He was also fined US$1,000 (708 pounds sterling) after the Board accepted that he had not sought to gain any unfair advantage.

The ACB announced on 21 February that Rummans, 25, had tested positive for the masking agent probenecid.

"I accept the decision to suspend me until 24 March and the fine," Rummans said, reading from a statement after a seven-hour hearing with the ACB's Anti-Doping Committee.

"I'm glad that the hearing acknowledged that I have never taken any performance-enhancing drugs.

"I would like to thank the committee for saying that I am a man of honesty and integrity and accepting my use of probenecid was innocent and that I never set out to mislead or cheat anyone.

"Several very high profile cricket figures went in to bat for me on this issue and this is something that I'll never forget."

The ACB said there had been mitigating circumstances to consider in the case.

"It is clear that Graeme took probenecid in contravention of the ACB Anti-Doping Policy," ACB chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement.

"The committee has also taken into account that Graeme was not seeking an unfair advantage in taking this drug."

Century

In 21 matches in the Australian interstate four-day competition, the left-hander has made 857 runs at an average of 29, including one century, and taken five wickets at 24.

Rummans has played six interstate one-day matches this season, scoring 177 runs at 35.40.

The ACB told the New South Wales selectors last week not to consider Rummans for the interstate one-day final, which NSW won against Queensland in Brisbane on Sunday.

Western Australian fast bowler Duncan Spencer was suspended by the ACB for 18 months in April last year after testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.