Beyond testing positive

With financial stakes getting higher, competition getting fiercer and drugs increasingly sophisticated, there is more time and effort being invested in smarter doping techniques which offer smaller detection windows and better gains. It has long been a cat-and mouse game that too often tips in favour of the cheats. It is for this reason the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) looked beyond drug testing to establish other types of doping offences.

WADA introduced the concept of “non-analytical” doping violations to impose sanctions where there was evidence that an anti-doping rule violation occurred but where there was no positive doping control test. It is a tool for tackling undetectable drug use in sports. In cricket, we have had a few non-analytical violations that include possession, use or attempted use of a banned substance as well as a whereabouts violation. Non-analytical type violations, enable anti-doping organizations to pursue different routes to detect and deter doping in sport.

As the fight against doping continues to grow stronger, the number of non-analytical violations have gradually increased. As per WADA’s latest Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) report, approximately 15% of violations in sport were derived from investigations and evidence-based intelligence. Of the total non-analytical violations 16% were committed by athlete support personnel.

The non-analytical violations are also a reflection of the importance of a good reporting programme. The ICC’s Integrity App has a reporting function that allows a participant to confidentially report into the ICC on any anti-doping matter that they may have observed or become aware of. Any reports received by the ICC will be analysed and investigated confidentially and appropriately.