BCCI anti-doping procedure: Shaw suspension raises questions

Shaw tested positive for terbutaline; his postive result was for a β2 adrenergic receptor agonist (a stimulant) and is primarily used as a "reliever" inhaler in the management of asthma symptoms.

The doping episode is the latest setback in a series of blows for Shaw, who has been on a downhill ever since making his Test debut in 2018.

The suspension of three cricketers, including Test cricketer Prithvi Shaw, for doping violations has again raised questions about the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI's) anti-doping procedures.

Shaw tested positive for terbutaline. His postive result was for a β2 adrenergic receptor agonist and is primarily used as a "reliever" inhaler in the management of asthma symptoms.  It is not a stimulant.

In all the cases, including Vidarbha cricketer Akshay Dullarwar (who tested positive for desacetyl deflazacort, a metabolite of deflazacort, which is a glucocorticoid) and Divya Gajraj (who tested positive for acetazolamide, which is a diuretic and masking agent) of Rajasthan, the suspensions have been backdated on the basis of Art. 10.2.2 of the BCCI Anti-Doping Rules.

READ| BCCI suspends three cricketers for doping violation

In the cases of Dullarwar and Divya, only the period of ineligibility and dates have changed. Divya’s suspension (for six months) will end on midnight of September 25, while Dullarwar’s (eight months) will end on midnight of November 9.

Like in the case of Yusuf Pathan, who served a five-month suspension during the 2017-18 season, the BCCI backdated the suspensions of the trio without really explaining why a particular date was chosen for a particular player.

Also, the orders speak about the “disqualification of certain results” of these three players.

The World-Anti Doping Agency Code recommends disqualification of all results and forfeiture of all medals, awards, points, prizes, amid other measures.