Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella was indefinitely suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for a doping offense during the recently concluded Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024. The suspension will come into immediate effect after Dickwella reportedly failed a doping test conducted in line with World Anti-Doping Agency guidelines.
The test was conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency as a part of the routine checks during the LPL. SLC said it takes the integrity of the game very seriously and an investigation into the violation is underway to decide on the future course of action. This anti-doping program is a joint operation of SLC, the Ministry of Sports, and SLADA to conduct random tests during domestic tournaments in an effort to prevent such violations.
Dickwella led the Galle Marvels for the LPL 2024 and has seen his name being associated with controversies throughout his career, be it his on-field successes or off-field disciplinary cases. Earlier in 2021, he was banned for breaching bio-bubble protocols along with teammates Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilake. He last represented the national side in March 2023, and though he got called up for the T20I series against Bangladesh earlier this year, he never made an appearance in any game.
This could well turn out to be a massive back mark on Dickwella’s cricketing future as he is currently on a tightrope with his career as the probe continues. The public reaction has been momentous due to his past of indiscipline and the broader implications for Sri Lankan cricket.
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