Hyderabad: In charge of dope control at the IPL for the very first time, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has finalised its testing programme for the cricket league. NADA will be setting up five 'Dope Control Stations'.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah stadiums which are going to host the IPL matches will have one DCS each while the training venues, ICC Academy in Dubai and Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi will have two DCS.
The 'in competition' testing will only be taken at the playing venues while the 'out-of-competition' testing will be carried out at the training venues, informed NADA director-general, Navin Agarwal.
A total of 50 samples of cricketers will be collected during the mega event. If required NADA will also collect blood samples as well.
Marquee players of the tournament like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni could also be tested during the cash-rich league's 13th edition.
The BCCI came under NADA's ambit from the third quarter of 2019, making this year the first time that the agency will handle sample collection during the IPL, to be held from September 19 to November 8.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the BCCI to shift the tournament to the UAE, provided it gets the final approval from the Home Ministry.
