- Eligible to play cricket again
Sri Lanka Cricketer Niroshan Dickwella’s ban from playing any form of cricket for testing positive to cocaine, has been significantly reduced from three years to 90-days, following an appeal lodged by the player concerned, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Ashley de Silva said.
The ban has been reduced by The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), ‘The Daily Morning Sports,’ reliably learns.
De Silva said that the green light given by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) Disciplinary Panel, has been approved by the SLC Ex-Co., enabling Dickwella to resume playing domestic and international cricket, with immediate effect.
The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, will also be eligible to play for Galle Marvels, in the Lanka T-10 Super League domestic franchise cricket tournament, which commenced at the Pallekele International Stadium yesterday (12), sources further revealed.
After the consideration of an appeal made by Dickwella, the appeal panel has declared that as per the medical evidence, it is clearly established that the player has consumed a substance of abuse out-of-competition and that it is unrelated to sports performance.
Accordingly, the panel has stated that therefore, they are of the view that the player’s three-year ineligibility period imposed by the disciplinary panel, should be reduced to three months ineligibility period, commencing from 13 July.
Furthermore, the panel has mentioned that this decision balances the player’s right to fair consideration, with the principles of anti-doping, ensuring fairness while maintaining the integrity of sport.
The appeal panel which considered Dickwella’s appeal consisted of Retired Judge Upali Samaraweera, Prof. Asela Mendis, and Attorney-at-Law Gimhana Jagodaarachchi.
Attorney-at-Law Suminda Perera with Senior Attorney-at-Law Ranil Prematilake appeared for Niroshan Dickwella.
On 16 August, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that Dickwella was suspended from participating in all forms of cricket with immediate effect, due to an alleged anti-doping violation and to further underscore its zero tolerance on players who violate its code of conduct.
Dickwella was found guilty of a doping violation during this year’s Lanka Premier League (LPL), where the former’s franchise side lost to Jaffna King’s in the final. The fifth edition of the T20 franchise tournament took place from 1-21 July.
This had reportedly been revealed following a doping test conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLDA) on 14 July.
In the wake of Dickwella’s positive result, he was imposed with a ban of playing all formats of the game by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and by his domestic club Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC).
Niroshan Dickwella whose career on the field has been often blighted by his numerous off the field indiscretions, has so far won 54 Test caps, but has mostly stood out in white-ball cricket, since making his international debut, a decade ago.
The combative southpaw from Trinity, has so far played in 55 One-Day Internationals and 28 T20Is for his country, but has failed to regain his place in the national team in any format, since Sri Lanka’s red-ball tour of New Zealand in March last year.