Malcolm Speed felt that the ICC has done its bit to keep cricketers up to date with banned substances
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan in Jaipur16-Oct-2006
Malcolm Speed has termed the Shoaib-Asif episode as “disappointing” © AFP
Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the ICC, felt that the ICC has doneits bit to keep cricketers up to date with banned substances that mostcommonly cause problems in sport and termed it “disappointing” that two ofPakistan’s premier bowlers had failed a drug test before their openinggame of the Champions Trophy.”Players have been tested since 2002,” said Speed while addressing themedia in Jaipur, “and I believe they’re well aware of the substances onthe list, as well as substances that most commonly cause problems forother sports. A number of times, the list has been advised to the cricket boards.This is not the first tournament when ICC has tested for drugs. We startedin 2002 at the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. We’ve tested at two moreU-19 World Cups thereafter. We also did the test in the 2004 ChampionsTrophy in England as well as the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.”He also clarified that the tests conducted on the 19 Pakistan players weredone entirely at the initiative of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB),adding that four other countries had also conducted regular tests fortheir players. “Cricket is regarded as a low-risk sport in terms ofdoping,” he continued. “But five of our members – England, South Africa,Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia – carry out regular testing withintheir own countries. The ICC has signed the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) code, as have most countries.”Speed also revealed that the WADA code provided players the defenceoption. “Under the WADA code, there are options for the player to prove nosignificant fault and no performance enhancing effect of the substance.There are some defences available there, under the WADA code.”But would the ICC accept the PCB’s verdict on Shoaib Akhtar, even if they feel itwas too light? “I don’t want to speculate about matters in the future,”Speed continued. “There’s nothing in the ICC’s anti-doping policy thatstates that we can come in there [if Pakistan deliver the judgement and theICC are not happy] but probably WADA can come in if they aren’t happy.Again that’s only if the PCB have signed the WADA agreement. During the ShaneWarne incident, WADA made comments about his one-day ban. They might havehad the right to appeal but they chose not to.”Speed wasn’t willing to make too many comments on Shoaib, and how this bancould affect his international career. “Shoaib has always been an excitingcricketer, a character,” he added, “and history will judge him the way ithas to.”