IPL 2020: NADA to conduct 50 tests during the tournament
India’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has finalized its dope testing scheme for the IPL 2020, to be played in the UAE from 19th September to 10th November.
NADA will set up a total of 5 ‘Dope Control Stations’ (DCS) in the UAE to carry out its anti-doping operations – one DCS in each of the 3 competition venues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, and one in each of the two designated training centre – Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and ICC Academy in Dubai.
NADA’s director general, Navin Agarwal, told the media that its dope control officers (DCOs) were directed to conduct “in competition” testing only at the playing venues, while the “out-of-competition” testing will be carried out strictly at the training sites. Throughout the tournament a total of 50 samples of cricketers will be collected.
NADA has not ruled out the possibility of obtaining blood samples if required, apart from urine samples. In addition to international cricketers, DCOs of NADA will also be encouraged to test leading Indian cricketers like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, among others.
The anti-doping program was undertaken by three separate teams of NADA officials and DCOs, each consisting of 5 members (1 senior NADA official, 2 lead DCOs and 2 local chaperones provided by the anti-doping body of UAE).
These 3 teams will fly to the UAE in batches. The first batch will depart in the first week of September. All team members will conduct Covid-19 test before their departure. They’ll be tested again once they arrive in the UAE.
