WADA: Dope On The Controversy

What's the importance of WADA?

World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) was created at the initiative of the IOC to curb drug abuse in sport. The ICC has agreed to subscribe to WADA guidelines in order to globalise cricket, make it an Olympic event. All governments are signatories to WADA.

What's the controversy about?

It's over a WADA rule requiring sportspersons in the International Registered Testing Pool (IRTP) to furnish prior information about their whereabouts over every three months. Also, required to allocate an hour every day for testing purposes. IRTP cricketers from all countries except India agreed to respect WADA’s guidelines by the July 31 deadline.

Which Indian cricketers are in the IRTP?

IRTP is chosen for random testing based on the cricketers' ICC rankings. The 11 Indians in the IRTP are Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, M.S. Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Munaf Patel, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag; and women cricketers Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj.

What are the drugs banned by WADA?

Banned substances include performance-enhancing and recreational drugs.

Why do athletes use drugs?

Build mass and strength of muscles & bones; increase delivery of oxygen to exercising tissues; mask pain; stimulate body; relax; reduce weight; hide use of other drugs.

Which drugs are commonly used?

• Diuretics: Increased urine production helps athletes to flush steroids from their body; helps them lose weight. Among caught: Australian cricketer Shane Warne, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson.
• Ephedrine: (Stimulant): Makes the heart beat faster, increases blood pressure, helps athletes during bursts of powerful effort. Among caught: Diego Maradona, sprinters Ato Boldon and Carl Lewis.
• Nandrolone, stanozolol (Anabolic agent): Helps build muscle, physical strength. Among caught: Cricketers Mohammed Asif and Shoaib Akhtar; sprinters Linford Christie, Ben Johnson, football players Christophe Duggary, Jaap Stam, Edgar Davids; tennis players Greg Rusedski and Petr Korda; shot-put world champion C.J. Hunter.

Are recreational drugs on the WADA list?

Yes, like stimulants (including cocaine), narcotics (including heroin) and cannabinoids (eg. hashish, marijuana). Several cricketers, including those from India, are rumoured to use these drugs.

Have cricketers been caught using recreational drugs?

West Indies player David Murray said he used to take marijuana before and after matches. England all-rounder Ian Botham was suspended for two months by the ECB for consuming hemp. England cricketer Dermot Reeve admitted to a cocaine addiction and resigned as a Channel 4 commentator; New Zealand cricketers Stephen Fleming, Dion Nash and Matthew Hart were banned for smoking cannabis in South Africa in 1993-94; they were fined $175 each. Six SA players, including Herschelle Gibbs, were fined $1300 after admitting smoking dope in 2000-01. Four Pakistani players—Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Aqib Javed and Mushtaq Ahmed—and two British tourists were arrested in Grenada in 1993 and charged with possession of marijuana. Diplomatic pressure saw the charge being dropped. Mohammed Asif was detained at Dubai last year after being allegedly caught with drugs.