International players are tested once every two years by the ICC - during the World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy.
MUMBAI: Shane Warne’s tryst with doping may be a thing of the past but it is a reminder that cricket is not immune to the menace of drug abuse.
Recently, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said while cricket is regarded as a low-risk sport for drug abuse, it was important to demonstrate compliance with the rigorous anti-doping standards recognised by leading authorities.
“International cricket has a good track record in steering clear of drug-related problems. No player tested positive for drugs at the last World Cup in South Africa and I would expect the same high standards to be maintained during the Champions Trophy,” Speed said.
But the ICC’s contract with WADA means that the players are only tested during the ICC events.
“That means events like the World Cup, Champions Trophy, U-19 World Cup and the U-15 World Cup,” said Brian Murgatroyd, ICC manager — media and communications. “Bilateral and tri-nation events are excluded from the contract. For those tournaments to come under the WADA rules, each member will have to sign his individual contracts.”
International players are tested once every two years by the ICC - during the World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy.
Two years is a long time especially considering the fact that all traces of water soluble steroids disappear from the blood stream after 24/36 hours and the oil based steroids take around three weeks.
Cricket Australia (CA) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are leading the way by signing agreements with WADA. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has not even broached the idea.
“Our boys don’t do that,” said BCCI’s honorary secretary Niranjan Shah. “But before the ICC Champions Trophy all the Indian players will be tested. This is to avoid any embarrassment.”
If ‘our boys don’t do that’ then what is the need to get them tested at all?
That is being done because two players from each of the 12 competing teams will be randomly selected for drugs testing at all of the 15 ICC Champions Trophy matches.
If found guilty, the player will be subject to the following sanctions: suspension for two years in the case of a first violation or a lifetime ban for a second offence, a fine, loss of financial assistance, rewards or records received during the tournament.
On being informed that CA and ECB have already signed agreements with WADA, Shah said: “If they have done, we will also follow. But that is not a problem.”
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