India’s teenage Test cricketer Prithvi Shaw, who is registered with Mumbai Cricket Association, was handed a backdated suspension of eight months for a doping violation in the 2018-19 domestic season.
The promising youngster inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, which can be commonly found in cough syrups. Shaw had provided a urine sample as part of the BCCI’s anti-doping testing program during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match on February 22, 2019 in Indore.
Shaw will serve the ban till November 15, 2019 but can resume training after September 15 onwards. The sample was subsequently tested and found to contain Terbutaline — a specified substance — that is prohibited both in and out of the competition by WADA.
A hip injury saw Shaw missing the West Indies tour. He will not be available for Duleep Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and a part of Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy. He will also miss India’s home series against Bangladesh and South Africa.
Now the question here is BCCI set to be blamed for Shaw’s ban? Several voices have criticized the board. But the truth is that BCCI should not be dragged into this. The apex body’s anti-doping manager Dr Abhijit Salvi has clarified the board’s stand. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, the official said that he spares no effort to make Indian cricketers aware about the importance of anti-doping programmes but sometimes the players tend to miss it.
Having said that, Shaw also attended three anti-doping education programmes as well. I keep telling the players even if it is paracetamol, which is not banned, even if it is a tablet for fever, call me. I won’t be irritated. I am there to help you. But somewhere people tend to think it is okay, it is just cough syrup. How can it contain a banned substance? And then make the mistake,” Salvi said.
In today’s world, athletes and sportspersons need to be aware of everything they are consuming. Especially regarding medicines. Shaw took the syrup and it was a bit careless on his part. But let’s not drag BCCI into it. Also, the BCCI should be introducing more educational plans for budding cricketers and helping them out.