Yasir Shah suspended by ICC for failing dope test

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah was suspended provisionally by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he tested positive for a banned substance — chlortalidone — in a doping test.

Yasir Shah has been prolific and significant in Pakistan's Test successes this year.

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah was suspended provisionally by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he tested positive for a banned substance — chlortalidone — in a doping test. Until the outcome of a disciplinary process by the ICC, Yasir is banned from participating in an international match or any other competitive match under the aegis of his home board, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), or any of its affiliated units.

In a media release, ICC stated: “The sample Yasir provided in an in-competition test, which was conducted on 13 November 2015, was found to contain the presence of chlortalidone, a Prohibited Substance which appears in Section 5 of the WADA Prohibited List (in the category of Specified Substances). In accordance with the ICC Anti-Doping Code, pending the outcome of the disciplinary process, Yasir has been provisionally suspended. The matter will now be dealt with in accordance with the process set down in the Code, and until such time as the process is resolved, the ICC will make no further comment on this matter.”

ICC provisionally suspends >@therealpcb Yasir Shah for breaching >@ICC Anti-Doping Code. >https://t.co/OCvUmc4kzH

— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) >December 27, 2015

The doping test was part of ICC’s in-competition testing, held during international matches. This one was held during Pakistan’s second ODI against England in Abu Dhabi. Yasir has the option of requesting his B sample (there are two samples of his urine taken for the test, A and B) to be tested. If this second test does not confirm the findings of the first, the test will be considered negative and his suspension will be lifted.

But, if the B sample also tests positive, according to Code 7.1.5 of the ICC Anti-Doping Code, “The findings shall be reported to the Player, his/her National Cricket Federation, his/her National Anti-Doping Organisation, and WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), and the matter shall proceed to a hearing in acordance with Article 8 (which discusses the details of a hearing set-up).”

Yasir can also request for a hearing to be organised to prove or disprove the charges against him.

Yasir has been Pakistan’s most successful bowler in Tests in the last 12 months, with 49 wickets in seven matches at an average of 23. His team’s series wins against Sri Lanka and England were largely assisted by Yasir’s wickets: he took 24 wickets in three Tests in Sri Lanka, for a series win after nine years in that country, and claimed 15 wickets in two victorious Tests against England, in the United Arab Emirates.