BCCI suspends Prithvi Shaw till November 15 after doping violation, statement here

Cricketer Prithvi Shaw who captained the India colts to victory in the Under-19 World Cup in 2018 has been suspended by the BCCI for a doping violation after inadvertently having ingested a prohibited substance Terbutaline commonly found in cough drops. While the BCCI has accepted Shaw's explanation as to why the substance was found in his system, it has decreed that he shall remain ineligible for 8 months along with disqualification of certain results. On accounting for technicalities, Shaw will be out of action till midnight on 15th November 2019.

Prithvi Shaw's anti-doping violation

Shaw's doping test had taken place on February 22 in Indore and his sample tested positive for Terbutaline which is on WADA's list of prohibited substances. He was charged under the BCCI's anti-doping rules on July 16, 2019, and responded by admitting the violation but asserted that it was inadvertent as it has resulted from him taking an over-the-counter medication for his cough. His eight-month period of ineligibility was deemed to have begun n March 16, 2019, and will run till November 15.

Will Prithvi Shaw be eligible to train?

Prithvi Shaw may return to train with a team or use the facilities of a BCCI member organisation after September 15.

The 1990-born resident of Thane has represented India in two test matches, having made his debut in October 2018 against the West Indies. He also plays for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. Shaw, a right-handed batsman, had shot to fame when he led India to their fourth U-19 World Cup win where they defeated Australia in the final by 8 wickets.

Here is the relevant section of the press release by the BCCI on the anti-doping violations that have taken place in the ongoing season:

Mr. 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.

Mr. Shaw had provided a urine sample as part of the BCCI’s anti-doping testing program during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match on 22nd February 2019 in Indore. His sample was subsequently tested and found to contain Terbutaline. Terbutaline, a specified substance, is prohibited both In & Out of Competition in the WADA Prohibited List of Substances.

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 is satisfied with Mr. Shaw’s explanation that he had taken Terbutaline inadvertently to treat an Respiratory Tract Infection and not as a performance-enhancing drug. Having considered all of the evidence and taken expert external advice, the BCCI has accepted Mr. Shaw’s explanation of the cause of his ADRV, and on that basis has agreed that a period of ineligibility of eight months should apply, together with disqualification of certain results. 

Under BCCI ADR Article 10.10.3, Mr. Shaw is entitled to full credit against that period of ineligibility for the provisional suspension that he has been serving since 16th July 2019. In addition, because Mr. Shaw promptly admitted his ADRV upon being confronted with it by the BCCI, there is discretion under BCCI ADR Article 10.10.2 to back-date the start of the period of Ineligibility to the date of sample collection (22nd February 2019). However, the BCCI ADR Article 10.10.2 also requires Mr. Shaw to actually serve one half of the period of ineligibility. Therefore, further to BCCI ADR Article 10.10.2, the eight-month period of Ineligibility will be deemed to have started to run on 16th March 2019, so that it will end at midnight on 15th November 2019.

Under BCCI ADR Article 10.11.2 a Cricketer may return to train with a team or to use the facilities of a club or other member organisation of a Signatory’s member organisation during the shorter of: 
(i) the last two months of the Cricketer’s period of Ineligibility; or 
(ii) the last one-quarter of the period of Ineligibility imposed. 
 
Therefore, Mr. Shaw may return to train with his State team and/or to use the facilities of any club or other member organisation of the BCCI after midnight on 15th September 2019. The complete decision and reasoning of Mr. Prithvi Shaw’s case is available here. 

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. The BCCI provides a dedicated 24X7 Anti-Doping Helpline where the Cricketers and Cricket support personnel can contact for any drug queries.