WPL 2023: Deandra Dottin releases shocking statement after exclusion from tournament's inaugural edition

After being roped in for INR 60 lakh by the Gujarat Giants at the auction, West Indies powerhouse Deandra Dottin was ruled out of the inaugural Women’s Premier League just a few days before their campaign opener against Mumbai Indians. Her sudden exit sparked controversy across the world, especially after Dottin revealed that she was completely fit and suffered no injury.

Gujarat Giants had revealed that the Caribbean star failed to meet the deadline and could not get medical clearance on time, because of which she was ruled out, and Australian all-rounder Kim Garth was roped in by the franchise as the replacement overseas player. Dottin made some startling discoveries about her omission from the Gujarat Giants' roster in a statement that she released on Monday, March 20.

She took to her official social media handle and shared a two-page-long statement that read:

“I wish to issue a brief statement in light of ongoing speculation surrounding my recent exclusion from the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) that is currently taking place in India. I remain deeply disappointed by what can only, plausibly, be described as bewildering reasoning for my omission from the tournament. As was widely publicised, I was bought at the WPL auction by the Gujarat Giants, a franchise owned and operated by the Adani Group. At the commencement of the tournament, the franchise claimed that I was excluded from the team because I was apparently ‘recovering from a medical situation’. This was followed by a subsequent, clarifying statement that contended that I was, in fact, “unable to obtain medical clearance” despite being granted as recently as February 20.”

Dottin revealed that she did not suffer any major injury, and only experienced minor abdominal pain for which she had undergone the required treatment in December 2022. Following the treatment and the doctor’s advice, she rested and was cleared to begin playing. She also revealed that the members of the franchise and the management were conveyed incorrect details about her fitness after her training session.

“I would like to make it clear that I had experienced minor abdominal pain and swelling for which I had sought treatment in December 2022. This was followed by two further referrals to specialists for second opinions in December and January 2023, respectively. Following testing and investigations by the specialists, I was asked to rest until February 13th and was cleared to resume fitness and playing activity from February 14th. Consequently, I recommenced my personal training and fitness regime according to the guided timelines and experienced some soreness on the first day of resumed training which was anticipated and reasonable, given that I had been asked to rest in the weeks preceding training. I was transparent about this in correspondence with the Gujarat Giants physiotherapist, however, this was misconstrued and later conveyed to members of the franchise’s management team as me “experiencing abdominal pain post-session” which was not what I had indicated. The franchise, subsequently, insisted that I get myself assessed locally in Canada, where I am currently based, despite medical clearance being granted as recently as February 20th by my treating surgeon, Dr lan Lewis, a copy of which had been presented to Giants,” she added.

Even after providing the franchise with her doctor’s report, who had declared her fit to play, Dottin revealed that Gujarat Giants issued a statement saying that she will be deemed unfit to play the WPL games if she does not provide a medical report by the mentioned date.

“To my shock, I was then forwarded email correspondence from the Giants’ physiotherapist, that included the following demand “Deandra Dottin is strictly advised to submit her fitness report along with the recent scan by 26/02/2023. She will be deemed unfit for T20 matches in the WPL if she doesn’t comply. This request was sent on Saturday 25th February with the deadline provided being the following day - Sunday - making it near impossible to administer all stipulated medical tests, particularly over a weekend,” she further revealed.

“On Sunday, 26th February, I received another email from a senior manager at Adani Sportsline (the sports arm of Adani Group) which stated that I was considered an integral part of the team and that I ‘hold a solid role to play’, however, they would require me to produce the new scan and reports by March 1st. Whilst I was trying my utmost to arrange an expedited CT scan in accordance with the various deadlines I was being served, I received yet another email the following day (Monday, 27th February), this time from the Head of Adani Sportsline, stating that they were unable to find me a timely appointment at a private hospital from their end and that they would, thus, formally be seeking to replace me in the League,” Dottin stated.

Dottin was furious as even after being declared fit to play by several doctors and surgeons, the franchise was firm on their decision that she was unfit.  

“The Giants’ second public statement regarding my exclusion - published on March 5th - specifically stated the following: ‘unfortunately, we were unable to obtain a medical clearance before the defined deadline for this season, such clearances are a requirement of all players participating in the WPL’. To the best of my knowledge, other players had not been requested to partake in medical testing nor require medical clearance as a requisite to participating in the tournament,” she clarified.

“Furthermore, I am bewildered as to why, having been cleared to resume training by multiple surgeons, it was insisted upon by the franchise that I repeat medical testing and produce medical clearance that had already been provided. At the very least, I hope the above account of events that transpired - those which are also backed by documented correspondence - shall put to rest ongoing speculation and offer my fans, the media and stakeholders an accurate personal insight into my unfortunate exclusion from the maiden Women’s Premier League,” she concluded.