In April 2011 the International Cricket Council has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Sri Lankan cricket player Upul Tharanga after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Prednisolone and Prednisone. Ater notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and was heard for the ICC Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal.
The Athlete gave a prompt admission, expressed his apology and explained that he suffered from a shoulder injury and was encouraged to be treated by a well known Sri Lankan Ayurvedic doctor who had treated many sportspersons, celebrities and politicians in Sri Lanka.
The Athlete assumed that the medication provided by this doctor were natural herbal cures and not medication containing prohibited substances.
In Sri Lanka an internal enquiry showed that the Ayurvedic doctor was not registered as a medical practitioner in Sri Lanka and not allowed to prescribe prednisolone while Sri Lanka Cricket was happy that the doctor treated its players and encouraged him to do so. Also the Sri Lankan bodies did not question the medication the doctor used to treat patients were free from banned substances.
The Tribuanl accepts the Athlete's explanation how the prohibited substance entered his system without intention to enhance his performance and finds that the doctor had misinform the Athlete that the medication he provided did not contain prohibited substances.
Considering the Athlete's degree of fault and his prompt admission the ICC Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal decides on 15 July 2011 to impose a 3 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension i.e. on 9 May 2011.
