Anti-Doping update
It has been a busy time at the ICC with the Men’s T20 World Cup fast approaching. A 16-team event across two countries and four cities, with an additional layer of complexity owing to COVID-19. The ICC has put a lot of time and thought into planning for the Event, and this includes the anti-doping programme.
A comprehensive risk assessment was the first step in the anti-doping planning process. We looked at the format of the Event, T20 being a format that is at higher risk of doping given the fast pace of the game and the financial incentives in the shorter formats of the game. We then considered the teams participating in the Event and looked at their level of anti-doping awareness as well as their exposure to doping control in their home countries and history of anti-doping violations. Once we had a clear picture of our risk profile in relation to both inadvertent and intentional violations, we then began to plan our anti-doping programme.
To address the risk of inadvertent violations, we looked closely at education and awareness. Where possible, we have tried to reach participating teams in advance of the Event to either deliver education or assess when teams have last received anti-doping education. We recently delivered education to five of the participating teams to ensure they are well informed and aware of the risks of doping prior to their travel to the Event. Education delivered to teams at the pre-event stage of the tournament will be tailored to the audience to ensure it is appropriate, it addresses the relevant areas of risk and focuses on key messages.
Our testing plan for the Event has focused on testing the right category player for the right substances at the right time. It includes storage of select samples and fast turnaround analysis to enable quick processing of any adverse findings. Testing has also been organized on participating teams in the lead up to the Event. From an intelligence angle, the ICC will scan through squad lists and monitor the Athlete Biological Passport of participants.
With the event being run in the midst of a pandemic, the ICC continues to prioritise the safety of its players. A detailed Event sample collection procedure has already been shared with Teams. In summary, the ICC anti-doping programme for the ICC Men’s T20WC will aim to ensure player safety is not compromised, teams are better informed on anti-doping matters, and the Event is played on a level playing field.