The International Cricket Council (ICC) is due to hold an inquiry shortly into Sri Lanka national cricketer Upul Tharanga being tested positive for using a banned substance during the recent World Cup tournament.
Lefthander Tharanga who has been in good form in the recent past has been tested positive following a random test for using a banned substance called Prednisolone reportedly prescribed to him by a VVIP’s alternate medical practitioner, the Sunday Times learns.
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Mr. Tharanga was the opening batsman for Sri Lanka during the tournament and scored an unbeaten century in the semi-final against England in Colombo.
Lawyers have already been retained to defend Mr. Tharanga at the ICC inquiry. In his statement after he was tested positive, the Sri Lankan opener has said, inter-alia that he was prescribed the banned substance by the well-known alternate medical practitioner.
The practitioner is often recommended to sports personalities and others by the VVIP, and has treated several sportspersons including Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and test players Gautam Gambhir and Ashish Nehra, all of whom visited Colombo to consult the high profile Sri Lankan born alternate medical practitioner. Several Sri Lankan national cricketers and other sportspersons have also consulted him in recent times.
According to medical sources, Prednisolone is a drug used in the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory and auto-immune conditions such as asthma. uveitis, pyoderma gangrenosum, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, temporal arthritis and Crohn's disease, Bell's palsy, multiple sclerosis, cluster headaches, vasculitis, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and autoimmune hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and dermatomyositis. It is also used for treatment of sarcoidosis, a disease in which abnormal collections of chronic inflammatory cells (granulomas) form as nodules in multiple organs.
Though Mr. Tharanga has a history of asthma he has been under treatment for a knee disorder in recent times. He has not been in training and has been out of contact during the past few days.
He was also not included in the Sri Lanka squad which is now touring England, though his place in the side is as a limited over opening batsman.
Mr. Tharanga’s urine sample was obtained by World Anti-Doping Agency officials during the recent World Cup matches.
Sri Lanka Cricket’s Interim Committee Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga denied any knowledge of the incident merely saying, “Officially we know nothing about Tharanga’s case. SLC has not received any complaints or reports about the use of the banned substance called Prednisolone from any organisation or agency.”
The Sunday Times however learns that Sri Lankan lawyers are preparing Mr. Tharanga's defence before the pending ICC inquiry.
ICC spokesman James Fitzgerald, when contacted by the Sunday Times via email, also did little or nothing to clarify matters. He merely said, “I have no comment to make about your inquiry. Sorry about that.” |
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