“There is no evidence that Mr Perera has ever used performance-enhancing substances”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
The International Cricket Council (ICC) have lifted their provisional ban on Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera, meaning that he is free to play cricket again.
Perera had been suspended in December 2015 after he tested positive for the anabolic steroid 19-Norandrostenedione. His B sample also tested positive for the substance.
However, according to an ICC statement, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) accredited laboratory in Qatar withdrew its “adverse analytical finding” after the results from Perera’s samples were “not sustainable”.
The statement added that for “various scientific and technical reasons”, it is possible that the 19- Norandrostenedione could have been “produced naturally in the player’s body and/or formed in the samples after the player provided them”.
“Had it not been for the diligence of Mr Perera’s legal team and the ICC’s own desire to uncover the explanation for the reported findings, the consequences could well have been different, and that should be of concern to all involved in the fight against doping,” ICC chief exeucitve David Richardson said. “We regret what Mr Perera has had to endure, and would like to commend him for the manner in which he has conducted himself throughout this period.
“We wish to make it clear that there is no evidence that Mr Perera has ever used performance-enhancing substances and we wish him well in his future cricketing endeavours.”
Despite the incident having come to an end, Richardson questioned the process used by WADA and their accredited laboratories.
“Cricket is proud of its compliance with the structures and systems required by WADA and takes comfort from the fact that samples are tested in accordance with WADA-approved standards and at WADA-accredited laboratories,” he said. “However, the ICC is troubled in this case by the fact that the Qatar laboratory has issued an adverse analytical finding that has then had to be withdrawn and replaced with an atypical finding.
“Whilst I am confident that this is an isolated incident in respect of tests commissioned by the ICC, we are seeking an urgent explanation from WADA and the laboratory in an attempt to understand what has transpired and what will be done to ensure it does not happen again.
“We will also immediately review our own internal processes to see whether there might be additional steps over and above those required by WADA that the ICC could put in place in order to give international cricketers further comfort.”