BCCI timeline shows gap of over two months between Prithvi Shaw’s sample collection and NDTL’s report

Back in July, Prithvi Shaw, the 19-year-old Indian batsman, was slapped with a backdated eight-month suspension by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The talented youngster was meted out with the ban as he had inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, Terbutaline. The suspension dates back from March 16, 2019, and will continue until November 15, 2019.

The Young Turk from Thane, Maharashtra had submitted a urine sample on February during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as a part of the BCCI’s anti-doping programme. Terbutaline is generally a substance found in cough syrups. However, the board was satisfied with his response that he had taken it to treat a Respiratory Tract Infection and not as a performance-enhancing drug.

Shaw played the IPL and T20 Mumbai League in between

Now it has been learned that there was a bit of complacency in dealing with Shaw’s case. The BCCI on Thursday put up a timeline of Shaw’s doping violation case. It showed a gap of two months between his sample collection, February 22, and the final report from the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), May 2, 2019, as per reports in The Times of India (TOI).

In fact, on April 5, there was a reminder given, following which it took one more month for the final report to be eventually received. In between Shaw played in the IPL, the Mumbai T20 League and also trained at the National Cricket Academy. The World Anti-Doping Agency may reopen the case handled by the BCCI, which has shown reluctance to come under the National Anti-Doping Agency.

Terbutaline is a prohibited substance under WADA, but it was later understood that it doesn’t help the cricketers and is more for athletes and cyclists. “Terbutaline, a specified substance, is prohibited both In and Out of Competition in the WADA Prohibited List of Substances.”

After receiving the suspension, Shaw was a tad distraught, but he asked the youngsters to be a bit more cautious in their approach. “I accept my fate with all sincerity. While I am still nursing an injury which I suffered during my last tournament, this news has really shaken me,” he was quoted as saying in a statement.

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