The ICC delivered a comprehensive anti-doping program in the year 2021. Beginning with the introduction of the revised 2021 ICC Anti-Doping Code and Whereabouts Rules, and concluding with the delivery of a full testing programme at the ICC Men’s T20WC.

The testing programme for the year 2021 included a total of 417 urine tests carried out across both men’s and women’s teams from 15 different countries. 82% of our testing accounted for no-notice out-of-competition testing and of the matchday testing approximately 90% was based on targeted selections. Blood testing remains a challenge during the pandemic, but we will aim to carry out blood testing wherever safe to do so.

The new whereabouts programme that was rolled out at the start of 2021 has progressed well and the ICC now receives monthly team whereabouts information from the top 12 men’s teams and the top 8 women’s teams. This is double the amount of information we received previously and has been invaluable in facilitating a more effective testing programme.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup which spanned across two countries and four cities and included sixteen teams was a challenge on most fronts, given it was the first World Cup Event in Cricket to be hosted during the pandemic. In addition to ensuring an effective doping control programme, we also had to be certain that the doping control team posed no risk to the safety of the tournament and in turn were not put at risk of being infected. Clearidium, the sample collection agency contracted to deliver the doping control programme were able to provide us with Doping Control Officers that could remain inside the managed environment, while the chaperones that were frequently COVID tested wore appropriate PPE when carrying out their doping control duties. The programme on the whole was successfully delivered, providing us with good experience and learnings to organize doping control even more effectively at future events.

As per the Anti-Doping Administration System (ADAMS), a total of 1069 samples were collected worldwide in Cricket. Testing was delivered by 14 testing authorities including the ICC and spread across 20 countries, covering cricketers with 18 different nationalities. 82% of these tests were conducted on male cricketers with an almost equal number of in-competition and out-of-competition tests. 68% of the testing was conducted in the second half of the year, with quarter 3 being the busiest accounting for 37% of the year’s testing. Only two Adverse Analytical Findings arose from the testing in 2021 and both cases are currently under review.

As we begin the year 2022, Members are encouraged to review their testing plans or their National Anti-Doping Agency’s testing plans for cricket and ensure that no advance notice/targeted out-of-competition testing is prioritised and testing on women where relevant remains a focus. Most importantly please remember that a cricketer’s first anti-doping experience should be education. As always, the ICC is available to assist and guide Members on any anti-doping related matter.