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The sixth edition of the Indian Premier League, which was rocked by the spot-fixing scandal, has now been hit by a positive dope test, with Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders’ promising left-arm seamer Pradeep Sangwan failing a random sample test during the cash-rich league.
- Indian Premier League 2013: Complete coverage
Sangwan is only the second cricketer in the history of the IPL, after Pakistani speedster Mohammed Asif, to test positive for banned substances.
"Yes, Pradeep Sangwan has tested positive for banned substances during this edition of Indian Premier League. The BCCI has already issued a letter to the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) in this regard. There have been traces of banned substances in his 'A' sample," a top BCCI official said, preferring anonymity.
Asked if it was just a banned drug or a performance-enhancing drug, the source said, "We will be able to know that only after the 'B' sample test is done. As you have seen the trend in other sports, the 'B' sample tests normally shows the trend of 'A' sample. One thing is for sure, the BCCI has zero-tolerance towards dope offenders. But at this point we can't comment about what action will be taken against the offender," the official added.
The 22-year-old Sangwan, who played a stellar role in India's victorious Under-19 World Cup campaign back in 2008, plays for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy and represented Kolkata Knight Riders during the last two editions of the IPL. He has taken 123 wickets in 38 first-class matches.
Sangwan, who hails from Najafgarh, played two matches in the last edition of IPL against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He could not get a single wicket during the two IPL games.
Although the BCCI does not come under the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) or its national subsidiary NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency), they have their own anti-doping agency.
Just like in any ICC event, in IPL also, there is random doping tests of players before or after matches.
The burly pacer, who had sustained a shoulder injury during the IPL, was undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy and is currently in the United Kingdom after undergoing surgery there. He was not available for comment.
The major doping fiascos in the cricketing world has seen legendary Shane Warne failing a dope test and being sent back home before the start of the 2003 ICC World Cup while Pakistani pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif failed dope tests in 2006 before the Champions Trophy in India.
Image: Pradeep Sangwan
Photograph: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images/Getty Images