Top 5 doping cases in cricket

Normally, one would associate the word ‘doping’ with semi-conductor physics. In simple terms, it is the addition of impurities into an extremely pure semi-conductor in order to change its electrical properties.

The use of such impurities, or drugs, in order to improve a sportsperson’s performance, has long become the ‘Dark Mark’ hovering over the world of sport. It has led to immediate derailment of flourishing careers, a multitude of legal issues, and numerous health risks. The likes of Ben Johnson, Lance Armstrong and Marion Jones, who were once role-models for younger generations, have fallen into disgrace over doping offences, bringing severe emotional trauma not only to themselves, but to sport lovers around the world.

Cricket, too, hasn’t been immune to such negative influences. With fresh cases coming to light at different times in the year, the general feeling is that it may not be the ‘gentleman’s game’ anymore.

Here are the top 5 doping cases in cricket:

5. Jesse Ryder (New Zealand)

Jesse Ryder of New Zealand

The troubled left-handed batsman, on a self-imposed exile from international cricket since February 2012, doesn’t seem to have learned from his near-death experience a few months ago. It emerged that he had tested positive for two banned stimulants present in two weight-loss supplement tablets he had taken in March 2013.

The NZ Sports Tribunal handed him a six-month ban, but since the offence had been committed in March, the punishment was back-dated to April, thus making Ryder eligible to play in October. The tribunal accepted that the portly southpaw had ingested the supplements only to keep his weight down and not to boost his on-field performance.

Ryder is fortunate enough to escape the maximum sentence of two years. He will do well to be cautious in the future.

4. Abdur Rehman (Pakistan)

Abdur Rehman

The 33-year old left-arm spinner received a 12-week ban from all cricket after testing positive for cannabis during his tenure at Somerset, in August 2012.

Rehman had just been named in Pakistan’s preliminary squad for the ICC World Twenty20 and had just finished playing a county championship match against Nottinghamshire when he was caught.

Under the terms of his suspension, Rehman was prohibited from playing all forms of cricket until December 2012. His ban was upheld by the Somerset Cricket Club following the announcement by the ECB.

Unlike his fellow countrymen Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Danish Kaneria, the left-arm spinner returned to action fairly soon, and is now one of the key players in the side.

3. Upul Tharanga (Sri Lanka)

Upul Tharanga

The left-handed opening batsman fell into the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) net after submitting a urine sample following his team’s victory over New Zealand in the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup. It was found to contain traces of two steroids – prednisone and prednisolone, both of which have been banned by the WADA.

Initially claiming that he had taken a remedy for asthma, Tharanga later pleaded guilty to the use of the banned substances, contending that he had utilized a herbal remedy for a long-standing shoulder injury. He was given a three-month ban (from May to August 2011).

After serving his ‘sentence’, the opener returned to the national fold and recently belted an unbeaten 174 against India in the West Indies. He has now become a near-permanent fixture at the top of the order.

2. Mohammad Asif (Pakistan)

Mohammad Asif

The tall fast bowler from Sheikhupura fell from grace after he was suspended, along with controversial speedster Shoaib Akhtar, by the PCB after both tested positive for nandrolone, a banned performance-enhancing drug, in October 2006. Both players were dropped from the Champions Trophy squad and were handed one-year and two-year suspensions, respectively in November. However, both were cleared by a tribunal and subsequently, their suspensions were revoked.

Controversy once again dogged Asif after he was detained in Dubai on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs; the charges were later dropped due to ‘insignificance’, as noted by Dubai prosecutors. He lost his contract with the Delhi Daredevils after once again testing positive for steroids, leading to a one-year ban from the Indian Premier League in 2009.

Since then, the maverick pacer’s personal reputation has been completely spoiled by his arrest and conviction for spot-fixing during the 2010 series in England. He has received a seven-year ban from all forms of cricket, and was released from an English jail last year. Making a comeback to the national side is still a long shot for Asif.

1. Shane Warne (Australia)

Shane Warne

In February 2003, a month before the World Cup commenced in South Africa, Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne was sent home following a drug test in which he was found to have traces of the banned prescription drug Moduretic. He claimed that he had taken only one of this ‘fluid tablet’ , on advice from his mother, in order to improve his appearance.

The Australian cricket board set up a committee to investigate the allegations, and found that Warne was guilty of breaching the Board’s drug code. He was banned for 12 months from organised cricket – which he interpreted as an opportunity to prolong his Test career.

However, the WADA took a dim view of the committee’s decision, criticizing the leg-spinner for playing in charity matches while serving his ban; Warne hit back at them for interfering in this matter.

Having served his ‘sentence’, Warne returned to competitive cricket in February 2004 and helped Australia to win a series in India for the first time since 1969. He featured in the 2005 and 2006 Ashes series, retiring at the end of the fifth match in the latter edition. He also led and coached the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, steering them to the inaugural title in 2008. After courting controversy against West Indian Marlon Samuels in the Big Bash League, Warne finally called time on his first-class career in July 2013.