Johannesburg : Following a series of drug scandals that hit the sports world recently, the ICC World T20 organizers have decided to conduct random doping tests during the tournament.
Tournament director M.V Sridhar pointed out that the dope tests were already in place, but added that they would conduct random tests in order to keep players away from indulging in any such activities.
Sridhar highlighted that the test would be done by the ICC doping committee as per the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency).
According to Sport24, the managers of the two teams will exchange the names of two players from their sides to be tested and the sample will be taken in the evening.
Earlier on Monday, former World number one Maria Sharapova had announced that she had failed the drug tests at the Australian Open.
Subsequently, she was handed with the provisional ban for testing positive for banned substance, meldonium that she has been taking since 2006 for health issues.
Cricket saw the ugly face of doping when Australian spinning great Shane Warne tested positive for a banned drug ahead of the 2003 World Cup. He was handed suspension for a year.
Besides Warne, Pakistani pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif had also faced bans after they were tested positive for a prohibited substance named nandrolone before 2006 Champions Trophy.
Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah and Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kusal Perera had also received suspension for the same reason. (ANI)