Another scandal rocks Sri Lankan cricket, and this time, it’s their former captain, Niroshan Dickwella. The explosive wicket-keeper batter has been banned from all formats of cricket for breaking anti-doping rules. This happened during the just-completed Lanka Premier League 2024, in which Dickwella led the Galle Marvels to the final.
We have reports in which Niroshan Dickwella was tested positive to use of cocaine, a banned substance in sport. A test conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Dope Agency proved it at the end of LPL—a big blow for the player and for the country.
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This is not the first time Niroshan Dickwella has got himself into trouble. Last year, in 2021, he was suspended for a year for a breach of COVID-19 protocols when the team was in the United Kingdom. The latest incident is likely to have even more severe consequences for his career.
Sri Lanka Cricket Suspends Niroshan Dickwella Following Alleged Anti-Doping Violation#sportspavilionlk #niroshandickwella #srilanka pic.twitter.com/WUmbZc8ZyN
— DANUSHKA ARAVINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) August 16, 2024
The 32-year-old has impressed in the LPL with his aggressive style of batting. He led Galle Marvels to the final, although they lost a close contest to Jaffna Kings. All his good displays have thus been overshadowed by doping allegations.
An official statement from Sri Lanka Cricket should come out soon, likely detailing the charges against Niroshan Dickwella and the consequent disciplinary action. This is, without a doubt, going to cost the Sri Lankan team dearly because he has been a key player in all formats of the game.
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As the investigation progresses, all of this will put the onus back on the Sri Lankan cricket board to make sure that everything is handled in a fitting manner and that the integrity of this sport is upheld. This incident serves to sharply remind of the difficulty that faces any athlete in trying to keep his image clean under so much pressure to perform.
