No cricket for Tharanga till August 9

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Category: Anti Doping

Published on Friday, 24 June 2011 23:26

Written by Charit Tissera

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Sri Lankan left hand opening batsman Upul Tharanga was found guilty today (24) in Dubai, before the anti-doping tribunal of ICC as he was tested positive for using banned substances: Prednisone and Prednisolone.

The ICC had announced a three-month ban on the Sri Lankan left hand opening batsman, which would refrain him from taking part in any cricket and cricket-related activities.

The ICC had also accepted that the offence was not deliberate and hence the suspension had been back-dated to begin on May 9, 2011. Therefore, Upul Tharanga would be eligible for selection from August 9 onwards, for any form of cricket.

Upul Tharanga had been reportedly informed by the ICC that traces of Prednisolone: which is listed on the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) as a corticosteroid, had been found in his blood sample randomly taken after the semifinal win against New Zealand on March 29 at Colombo. Tharanga tested positive for metabolites of two glucocorticosteroids—Prednisone and Prednisolone.

Tharanga had pleaded guilty today before an independent anti-doping tribunal, comprising of chairman Tim Kerr, Anik Sax and Peter Sever.

As per the ICC release, the anti-doping tribunal had accepted that Tharanga had ingested the substances when drinking a herbal remedy given to him to ease discomfort caused by a long-standing shoulder injury.

The statement goes onto say, "It also found that Tharanga had no intention to enhance his sporting performance or to mask the use of another performance enhancing substance, but that he had failed to satisfy the high levels of personal responsibility implicit upon him as an international cricketer subject to anti-doping rules”.

The left hand opener, after receiving the verdict from the tribunal had apologized to his fans and followers of Sri Lanka Cricket for “inadvertently committing an offence".

"I hope my fellow sportsmen will learn from my experience and be more vigilant when taking medical treatment, so that their careers do not suffer in the way that mine has", he had noted.

The tribunal had also excluded the rankings points he earned from the World Cup, including the two centuries he scored during the run to the final.

Commenting over the verdict announced by the ICC, its Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat had said "We recognise that Upul has not been found guilty of deliberately cheating, but the ICC maintains its zero-tolerance approach towards doping for the benefit of all its stakeholders”. He had also remarked that these types of cases act as a reminder to all players in taking great care and personal responsibility at all times for the substances that they consume.

Upul Tharanga has the right to appeal against the tribunal's decision and must do so within 21 days of receiving the written decision.

 

Sanath with a firm position!

On June 5, ThePapare.com, quoting insider sources revealed that former Sri Lankan cricketer and current parliamentarian Sanath Jayasuriya was likely to join the Sri Lankan cricket team (touring England), as the probable replacement for the opening batsman Upul Tharanga, who is charged over using a banned corticosteroid: Prednisolone.

However, following ICC's verdict over Tharanga, the Master Blaster has placed himself at a firm position in the Sri Lankan batting line-up.

Due to the ban imposed by the ICC, Tharanga would not be available for the ODI and T20 matches in England and the Sri Lanka "A" Team tour of England. He also would not be showing himself at the Sri Lanka Provincial League (SLPL) where he was scheduled to lead the Southern Xl.

The 'Doctor'

Tharanga had claimed he was prescribed prednisolone by a healer named Dr. Eliyanthe White, whose services have reportedly been personally recommended by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to many sports personalities. Dr. White had also treated India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell, among others. Several other Indian cricketers including Gautam Gambhir, Ashish Nehra and Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Medical Council’s Registrar Dr N. J. Nonis had stated “The person named Eliyantha White is not registered in the Council either as a medical practitioner, dentist or an assistant medical practitioner.”

Dr. Nonis, speaking to BBC had also remarked, “If an un-registered person prescribed it, he is committing an offence under the Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Act and could be prosecuted.”

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