ESSEX have been fined £100,000, half of which is suspended for two years, after admitting to a failure to address “systemic” racist language and conduct at the club between 2001 and 2010.

The club have also been cautioned as to their future conduct and reprimanded by the Cricket Regulator (CR).

The CR panel felt the length of time covered by the charge and the systemic use of racist and discriminatory language suggested a culture that was “embedded” across most levels of the club.

The panel accepted in mitigation Essex’s early admission of the charge and the punishments handed to individuals arising from the separate independent review commissioned by the club, which was conducted by Katharine Newton KC and ran in parallel to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s own investigation.

That review had been prompted by allegations of racism by former players Jahid Ali, Maurice Chambers and Zoheb Sharif.

The CR did not reveal who Essex had sanctioned but noted “the seniority within the club of some involved.”

Essex were also praised for their work to improve equality, diversity and inclusion over recent years.