A timeline of events has been disclosed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that led to India opener Prithvi Shaw’s doping ban. A gap of two months between his sample collection and the final report from the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) has already given to the birth of controversies. This looks like an attempt at damage control by the Board.
The Story
Prithvi Shaw’s backdated 8-month ban for doping violation raised questions on the effectiveness of the BCCI’s anti-doping programme. The 19-year-old submitted his urine sample during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match on 22nd February 2019 in Indore. But the report took a couple of month’s time to submit the final report on May 2. The sample was found to contain Terbutaline, a specified substance that is prohibited both In & Out of Competition in the WADA Prohibited List of Substances.
Meanwhile, Shaw was featured in Indian Premier League and Mumbai T20 League. Shaw was handed a back-dated 8-month ban on July 30 by the board. So technically, the delay was done by NDTL. In fact, earlier BCCI anti-doping manager Dr Abhijit Salvi had confirmed the same. The timeline clearly suggests that the board had sent a reminder on April 5 but NDTL took one more month to finally submit the reports on Shaw doping case.
Timeline of events
- 22 February 2019: Sample collection from Mr. Shaw.
- 23 February 2019: Sample delivered to National Dope Testing Laboratory, New Delhi (NDTL).
- 05 April 2019: Email reminder to NDTL regarding pending reports.
- 05 April 2019: NDTL response received on pending reports.
- 02 May 2019: NDTL report of Mr. Shaw’s Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) received by BCCI.
- 02 May 2019: NDTL requested to send complete Laboratory Documentation Package by BCCI.
- 17 May 2019: Laboratory Documentation Package received by BCCI.
- 18 May 2019: All relevant documents sent to Independent Review Board (IRB) through International Doping Tests & Management (IDTM).
- 20 May 2019: IDTM appointed 3 (three) IRB members (a Lawyer, a Sports Physician and a Scientist).
- 25 June 2019: IRB submitted reports to IDTM Anti-Doping Program Administrator (APA).
- 26 June 2019: IDTM APA submitted a report to BCCI that the Cricketer has a case to answer.
- 27 June 2019: Case documents sent to BCCI’s External Legal Counsel who has vast experience in handling anti-doping cases.
- 15 July 2019: Draft of Notice of Charge (NOC) received from BCCI’s External Legal Counsel
- 16 July 2019: Notice of Charge served upon Mr. Shaw.
- 18 July 2019: Mr. Shaw responded that he accepts the charge and would not want to attend B Sample opening & analysis.
- 22 July 2019: Response to NOC received from Mr. Shaw’s lawyer.
- 22 July 2019: Response to NOC forwarded to BCCI’s External Legal Counsel.
- 24 July 2019: Conference call between BCCI’s External Legal Counsel and BCCI’s Anti-Doping Manager to discuss the quantum of punishment.
- 26 July 2019: Draft of final decision received from BCCI’s External Legal Counsel.
- 30 July 2019: Detailed decision of BCCI in the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) sent to Mr. Shaw.
- 30 July 2019: Copy sent to ICC & WADA, Media release of the ADRV.
