Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw suspended for doping violation

The talented Indian Test opener was slapped with an eight-month ban

India cricketer Prithvi Shaw suspended for doping violation: BCCI [File] Prithvi Shaw | AFP

Indian Test opener Prithvi Shaw, and two others, have been handed suspensions by the BCCI for doping violations. An official release from the cricket board stated that the Mumbai cricketer provided a sample as part of an anti-doping testing programme during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on February 22, 2019 in Indore and was tested positive.

The 19-year-old Shaw, who has played two Test matches against the West Indies in 2018, was reportedly undergoing rehabilitation for a hip injury. He tested positive for terbutaline, a specified substance, which is prohibited both in and out of competition in the WADA Prohibited List of Substances.

Following this finding, Shaw was charged with the commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under the BCCI Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) Article 2.1 on July 16, 2019, and provisionally suspended pending determination of the charge.

"On 16th July 2019, Mr. Shaw was charged with the commission of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) under the BCCI Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) Article 2.1 and provisionally suspended pending determination of the charge. Mr. Shaw responded to the charge by admitting the ADRV but asserting that it was inadvertent, being caused by his ingestion of the over the counter cough syrup he had taken for his cough," the BCCI said in a statement.

Based on the findings, the BCCI put forth a back-dated eight-month suspension which will go on till November 15, 2019, effectively ruling him out of India's home series against Bangladesh and South Africa.

"Prithvi Shaw registered with Mumbai Cricket Association, has been suspended for doping violation. Mr. Shaw had inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, which can be commonly found in cough syrups," the statement .

Along with Shaw, two other domestic players Akshay Dullarwar of Vidarbha and Divya Gajraj of Rajasthan, will face ban until September 25 and November 9, respectively.

The suspensions have been back-dated on account of each of the players admitting their consumption of prohibited substances. All players were said to have inadvertently consumed these substances so as to treat medical conditions.

The cricket board's press release added that, "The BCCI has a zero-tolerance approach towards doping in Cricket. All Cricketers are personally responsible for ensuring that anything they eat, drink or put in their body does not give rise to an ADRV under the BCCI Anti-Doping Code."