Dope Testing in IPL: Three NADA officials to travel to UAE

Conducting a tournament of such as gigantic magnitude as the IPL comes with a lot of hassles but the BCCI and other stakeholders remain committed to ensuring the tournament in Dubai is as big a hit as it has been in the previous editions.

National Doping Agency has decided that it will send three of its officials along with six empanelled Dope Control Officers (DCOs) to the UAE for sample collection during this year’s Indian Premier League, which runs from September 19 to November 10.

According to sources in the NADA, the agency is targeting collection of at least 50 samples during In-Competition (IC) and Out-of- Competition (OOC) testing during the event.

“NADA will have nine people in UAE and they will also take help of the UAE’s National Anti Doping Organization if they require further manpower, in this case chaperones who help in sample collection,” a senior BCCI official told PTI.

However, it remains unclear whether the entire cost will be entirely borne by NADA or BCCI will share the expenses. When the tournament is held in India, it’s NADA which bears the entire cost but since the tournament is held outside India, it remains to be seen whether the board will share the cost.

“The NADA officers will be asked to stay in the BCCI created bio bubble,” a source informed.

The BCCI has been asked to set-up five separate Dope Control Stations (DCS) in the UAE -- three at the match venues in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai along with two at the practice facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

While the number of samples might be limited, it is expected that the BCCI may collect a few blood samples too as transportation from Dubai to the WADA-accredited lab in Doha will be easier due to less number of COVID-19 cases.