Sangwan fails random dope test

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Pradeep Sangwan

As if the spot-fixing and conflict of interest issues were not enough, the Indian Premier League was on Thursday rocked by the revelation that Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders fast bowler Pradeep Sangwan had failed a dope test.

The 22-year-old left-arm quick returned a positive sample at a random test carried out during the last edition of the T20 tournament that ended in a welter of charges, police action and management controversies that even led to the Indian cricket control board having to “step aside”.
Sangwan now shares the dubious distinction of being one of a rare handful of cricketers to have tested positive for a banned substance, and the second in the IPL after controversial Pakistan quick Mohammad Asif - now banned for life over spot-fixing charges during a Test series against England two years ago.
According to PTI, a BCCI official confirmed the development.
“Yes, Pradeep Sangwan has tested positive for banned substances during this edition of Indian Premier League. The BCCI has already issued a letter to the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association in this regard. There have been traces of banned substances in his ‘A’ sample,” he was quoted as saying.
There was however, no clarity whether the substances detected in Sangwan’s ‘A’ sample was a performance-enhancing one or a recreational drug, which a fair sprinkling of cricketers over the years have indulged in, including players from England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan.
“We will be able to know that only after the ‘B’ sample test is done. As you have seen the trend in other sports, the ‘B’ sample tests normally shows the trend of ‘A’ sample. One thing is for sure, the BCCI has zero-tolerance towards dope offenders. But at this point we can’t comment about what action will be taken against the offender,” the official added.
Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India is not a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) code, or that of its national subsidiary National Anti-Doping Agency )Nada), it does have its own dope control protocol and tests its cricketers along the lines of the International Cricket Council’s policy, especially during tournaments.
Sangwan, who hails from the Najafgarh area of Delhi, went wicktless in his only two matches of IPL-6 for KKR. He is currently in England for treatment to a shoulder injury. Since his first-class debut for Delhi in 2007, the left-arm fast bowler has 123 wickets from 38 matches.