Sports / Other Sports |
ICC promises to solve drug-testing issues(Reuters)Updated: 2006-10-31 09:00 The International Cricket Council (ICC) has promised to sort out problems with the drug-testing facilities for the Champions Trophy, after criticism by World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) officials. "The Champions Trophy is our first tournament since we became signatories to the WADA code and it has presented us with some challenging issues," said ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed in a statement overnight. "These issues are logistical ones and are understandable given no infrastructure or culture of drug-testing exists currently in India. "I would stress we do not believe any of the issues raised have affected the integrity of the testing process." The two WADA officials conducting the random tests have criticised the ICC over poor arrangements at grounds, including the absence of facilities to store the urine samples collected. "We've been having a very bad time with the organisation," said Yousef Hasan, one of the WADA officials, told local television. "We've been on many doping control testing missions with lots of federations," he said. "We've been dealing with them professionally and they've been dealing back very professionally as well. "Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about ICC. "They've received a list of requirements from WADA, but unfortunately what they provided us was not up to the standard." The channel also reported a Pakistan player arrived for testing without his identity card. Cricket is regarded as low-risk for doping, but the event began in its shadow when Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were sent home after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone. The ICC said 12 players from six teams have been tested up to the semi-final stage.
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