BCCI suspends Punjab cricketer Abhishek Gupta for doping violation

CHANDIGARH: Punjab wicket-keeper batsman Abhishek Gupta has been suspended by the Board of Control for India in Cricket (BCCI) for five months on the grounds of a doping violation. Abhishek Gupta was handed a retrospective eight-month suspension for an "inadvertent" doping violation, said the board on Thursday.


With this, the 27-year-old cricketer from Jalandhar has become the first cricketer from Punjab to be found guilty of doping. Gupta's suspension started from January 15 and will end on September 14.

A urine sample Gupta provided as part of the BCCI's testing programme on January 15, when he was playing for Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, was found to contain Terbutaline, which is in the World Anti-Doping Agency's (

WADA

) list of prohibited substances.

"Gupta provided the sample during a domestic T-20 competition on 15th January in New Delhi. His sample was subsequently tested and found to contain Terbutaline," said the BCCI in a statement.

"Terbutaline is prohibited both In and Out of Competition in the WADA Prohibited List of Substances. Gupta had consumed the banned substance at the prescription of his doctor," the BCCI stated.

The BCCI charged Gupta with committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) on January 17 and provisionally suspended him. Gupta admitted to the violation, but said he took the substance inadvertently, as part of medication prescribed by his doctor to treat an upper-respiratory-tract infection, and not as a performance-enhancing drug. Terbutaline is a bronchodilator, which works by opening up breathing passages to make breathing easier.

The BCCI was satisfied with Gupta's explanation, and after considering all the evidence and taking expert external advice, has decided to suspend him for eight months, back-dating the start of the suspension to January 15, 2018. His suspension will end on September 14, 2018.

Gupta has played six first-class matches, six List A games and nine T20s.

Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) secretary R P Singla told TOI that Gupta will not be allowed to participate in any cricket match.
"Abhishek will not be allowed to participate in the Katoch Shield (Punjab's senior inter-district cricket tournament, which will start from June 27)," said Singla.

However, Singla didn't mention that whether he will be eligible for the participation in the 85th season of the Ranji Trophy, which starts in October.

Speaking to TOI, the wicket-keeper batsman admitted to consuming Terbutaline, saying it was in a cough syrup prescriped by a doctor. "It happened because of my ignorance and I have explained it to the BCCI. Initially, BCCI banned me for four years. Once I showed them the prescription, the time period was reduced to eight months," said Gupta.

"I won't be allowed to participate in Katoch Shield. But, as per the BCCI regulation, I can attend the cricket camps from July," he added.

When asked about his chances to play in the Ranji Trophy, the cricketer replied, "Technically i will be cleared to play in the tournament, but it is up to PCA and the selectors if they are going to select me or not."

Gupta had a sensational Ranji Trophy debut, when he smashed a double century against Himachal Pradesh in Dharamsala. He went on to score 471 runs in six matches with an average of 52.33.

In January, former India all-rounder Yusuf Pathan too was handed a five-month retrospective suspension for failing a dope test. His test sample too contained Terbutaline.
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