Essex fined 100,000 pounds over racism at club between 2001 and 2010

:Essex have been fined 100,000 pounds ($132,190) after admitting to a charge of racism at the county club which they failed to address between 2001 and 2010, England's Cricket Regulator said on Wednesday.

Essex were charged in June after an investigation undertaken by the Cricket Regulator, a body responsible for monitoring compliance with the sport's rules which operates independently from the rest of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

An independent Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) panel held a sanctions hearing and published its decision on Wednesday.

"Essex County Cricket Club has admitted a charge in breach of Directive 3.3, in relation to the systemic use of racist and/or discriminatory language and/or conduct during the period between 2001 and 2010 which Essex failed to address," it said in a statement.

The CDC panel also cautioned and reprimanded Essex while 50,000 pounds of the fine was suspended for two years.

"There is deep regret for what occurred in the past but these events do not reflect the Essex Cricket of today," Essex chair Anu Mohindru said.

"The club have accepted the sanctions and remains committed to tackling all forms of discrimination, and is fully aligned with the ECB's goal of making cricket the country's most inclusive team sport.

"We have made significant progress in achieving these aims in the communities we represent through our excellent outreach work, as well as building a workplace that values and respects every individual."

Dave Lewis, the interim director of the Cricket Regulator, said the racism experienced at Essex was "abhorrent" while the evidence was "deeply disturbing".

Lewis added that the sanctions had been decided following a "long and complex investigation" after the club