World T20: ICC to conduct random dope tests during tournament

The International Cricket Council will conduct random dope tests during the World Twenty20 Championship in India, which is a regular practice in all ICC events, Tournament Director M V Sridhar said on Thursday, 10 March.

"The random dope tests have been a part of ICC events for a long time. Random dope tests are performed at all ICC events and it is not a new phenomenon," Tournament Director M V Sridhar told PTI.

Sridhar clarified that a series of drug scandals that have recently rocked the sporting world, including tennis star Maria Sharapova's revelation, has not prompted the ICC to take this step as dope tests have been in practice since 2011.

"I have never said that it is being done because of drug test failures as this has been a practice for a long time," Sridhar insisted.

ICC events have had dope tests since 2011. They (other sports) have their own anti doping agency which performs as ICC is not part of WADA and cricketers have not signed any whereabouts clause.

For the record, ICC had performed random dope tests at 2011 World Cup, T20 editions in 2012 and 2014. There are times when these dope tests are done during training sessions.

The Tournament Director said the Indian team had undergone random dope tests during 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

-PTI