WADA drive will see cricketers undergoing blood tests

International cricketers including those from India will have to submit their blood samples for testing for the first time ahead of the Champions Trophy 2017 in England. The Men in Blue were briefed about it ahead of the first ODI against England at Pune. Cricket has been complying with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for over a decade now but compulsory blood tests are yet to be implemented.

“Cricket has been WADA compliant since 2006 but our players still only undergo in-competition random tests, where their urine samples are collected. But there are a lot of performance enhancing drugs and steroids in circulation out there which aren’t visible in urine samples but will show up in your blood. Blood-testing is part of what WADA terms ‘smart testing’,” Indian Express quoted a source as saying.

The same source within the framework of the BCCI went on to add that the players are indeed skeptical of their blood being drawn. “The cricketers were understandably wary of having their blood drawn. But they were briefed on how it’s for the good of the game and they agreed,” he added. “The blood profile, therefore, will be studied every six months. This is a more sophisticated technique, which will help in conducting more targeted tests and provide clearer evidence of doping,” the source said.

“The blood profile, therefore, will be studied every six months. This is a more sophisticated technique, which will help in conducting more targeted tests and provide clearer evidence of doping,” the source said.

Depending on a batsman or bowlers exploits on the field they will be tested for something as complex as growth hormone test to ensure there is no undue means employed at any point. “You would look at the explosiveness of a batsman or a fast bowler for example and do a growth hormone test just to eliminate the doubt of whether any illegal methods have been used,” he said.

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All these years just the urine sampling has been used and only one player has tested positive but that doesn’t mean everything that appears clean on the outside must be clean otherwise as well. “Urine testing has so far only given us one positive result. But does that mean we should be happy that cricket remains a clean sport or are we sitting on a ticking bomb? Blood-testing and smart testing could provide us the answer,” he said.