IPL 2020: NADA To Carry Out 50 Tests, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni Likely To Be Asked For Samples
Published - 25 Aug 2020, 01:03 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:33 AM
With less than a month remaining before IPL 2020 gets underway, National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has finalised its programme for the upcoming tournament. The thirteenth edition of the tournament will be held entirely in UAE because of the coronavirus pandemic situation in India.
All the franchises have already reached UAE for IPL 2020 which is scheduled to take place from September 19 to November 10. And as the players gear up for IPL, NADA have also finalised their plans, according to a report in the Times of India.
The report further suggested that the NADA will setup five Dope Control Stations in the UAE – one each in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Also, the other two at designated training venues – ICC Academy in Dubai and Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
NADA director general, Navin Agarwal, informed the news outlet that the dope control officers have been asked to conduct “in competition” testing only at playing venues. 50 samples of cricketers will be collected during the tournament. Apart from urine samples, some blood samples might be collected too and leading Indian stars could be tested, like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. Three NADA teams in separate batches will be travelling to the UAE.
“The first batch will leave in the first week of September. Before their departure, all team members will be tested for Covid-19. Upon their arrival in the UAE, they will be tested again,” stated TOI.
Meanwhile, all the franchises will stay in bio-secure bubbles. Once the players, staff members and others move inside the bubbles, they won’t be allowed to go outside before the tournament ends.
