Niroshan Dickwella admits to doping charges
National cricketer Niroshan Dickwella has refused a ‘B’ sample testing, effectively admitting to the anti-doping charges brought against him. This refusal comes after Dickwella tested positive for cocaine—a banned narcotic—during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024, following tests conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) on July 14.
As a result, Dickwella has been suspended from all forms of cricket, and his career now hangs in the balance. Sources indicate that while out-of-competition use of cocaine is not considered an offence under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, the implications for Dickwella are severe due to the timing and circumstances of the positive test.
The 2024 LPL, played between July 1 and July 21, saw Dickwella’s team, the Galle Marvels, led by the player himself, losing to the Jaffna Kings by 9 wickets in the final.
On Friday, he appeared before a three-member disciplinary committee, headed by President’s Counsel Uditha Egalahewa and including Prof. Rohini Fernandopulle and Dr. Nimal Herath Gunaratne. The meeting, held at the National Institute of Sports Science (NISS), was also attended by attorney Panduka Keerthinanda, who represented SLADA. The committee recorded the proceeding to prevent any possibility of misleading or misguiding the panel, a move that underscores the seriousness of the charges against Dickwella.
Facing a maximum ban of four years from all forms of sport, Dickwella has agreed to provide a written statement within a week to explain his side of the story. This document will be crucial in determining the committee’s final verdict.
However, Dickwella’s track record with controversies does not bode well for him. Just three years ago, he was suspended alongside Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis for violating COVID-19 protocols during Sri Lanka’s tour of England. That incident, which led to a one-year ban for all three players—later reduced to six months following appeals—was expected to serve as a wake-up call for Dickwella. Unfortunately, his continued involvement in controversies suggests otherwise.
Despite his education at Trinity College, an institution known for producing cricketing legends like Kumar Sangakkara, Dickwella has struggled to live up to the high standards expected of a professional cricketer. His career statistics, which include representing Sri Lanka in 54 Tests, 55 ODIs, and 28 T20 Internationals, show a player of considerable talent.
The current doping scandal not only threatens to end Dickwella’s career but also raises questions about the broader culture within Sri Lankan cricket. There are growing concerns that this incident might not be isolated, prompting calls for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to launch a thorough investigation to determine whether other national cricketers are involved in drug use. Such an inquiry is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the sport and ensuring that the next generation of cricketers is not influenced by the wrong role models.