Verdict on Andre Russell's anti doping case on 31st January

According to a Cricinfo report, the anti-doping tribunal hearing on West Indies allrounder Andre Russell’s case is set to deliver its verdict on January 31. The independent tribunal is looking into whether he breached the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) code by being negligent about filing his whereabouts three times between January and July 2015.

If found guilty, Russell may be banned for two years. According to the WADA code, if an athlete misses three tests in a 12-month period, it amounts to a failed dope test. The charge was pressed by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) last March. JADCO said Russell had been negligent about filing his whereabouts despite several reminders over phone, email and through written letters. Russell failed to file his whereabouts on January 1, July 1 and July 25, 2015.

While defending himself, the Jamaican allrounder told the tribunal that he had not been properly trained to file the whereabouts. And considering he was busy fulfilling various cricket commitments he had authorized his agent and travel agent to file his whereabouts on his behalf.

The three-member tribunal comprising Hugh Faulkner, Dr Marjorie Vassell and Dixeth Palmer, a former Jamaica cricketer, was due to deliver the verdict in December. But no reasons were offered by the tribunal in public behind the delay.

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The delayed verdict has kept not just Russell, but also various T20 franchises waiting in anticipation. Although not contracted with Cricket West Indies, Russell is one the most highly valued players in the various Twenty20 domestic leagues across the world. The muscular all-rounder has represented Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL), Sydney Thunder (Big Bash League), Islamabad United (PSL), Nottinghamshire Outlaws (NatWest T20 Blast) and Jamaica Tallawahs (Caribbean Premier League).

Russell was earlier in the news for playing with a black (painted) bat during the Big Bash League. The match officials did not encourage the innovation and sighted that the bat had left marks on the ball as the primary reason. Russell later got an approval from Cricket Australia.