Hot on the heels of Pakistan media reports that Shoaib Akhtar carried a large number of syringes to India, the World Anti-Doping Agency will conduct surprise dope tests on cricketers participating in the Indian Premier League from Saturday.
"There are surprise dope tests to begin today. The (WADA) team from Sweden has already come down. We don't know which team will be subjected to the tests first or which player's samples would be taken first," said IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.
"As per the ICC rules, the WADA team is here and the dope tests will start immediately," he added.
The WADA team's arrival comes in the close aftermath of reports in the Pakistan media that Kolkata Knight Riders' Akhtar carried an unusually high number of syringes in his baggage while coming here.
Modi, however, rubbished the reports. "I have verified the reports, no such things were found," he said.
Interestingly, Akhtar was banned after testing positive for performance-enhancing drug nandrolone during the Champions Trophy in 2006.
Another IPL participant, retired Aussie spin wizard Shane Warne, who is the captain-cum-coach Rajasthan Royals, had also served a one-year ban after testing positive for banned diuretics during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
The ICC rules on doping adhere to the WADA code which lists a two-year ban for a first-time offender and a life-ban for any dope violation the next time.
The Pakistan Cricket Board also played down the report in the daily 'Nation' that Akhtar was questioned about possession of three dozen of syringes in his baggage prior to leaving for Mumbai earlier this month at the Karachi airport.
