In a significant development that underscores the growing importance of anti-doping compliance in Indian cricket, rising stars Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shafali Verma have received official notices from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after missing scheduled dope tests last year.
Both players are part of NADA's Registered Testing Pool (RTP), a select group of athletes who must provide regular updates on their whereabouts and remain available for surprise testing during a designated daily window. According to sources, the two cricketers were unreachable during their scheduled tests and failed to provide valid explanations, resulting in their first official "whereabouts failure."
"Notices have been issued to the concerned athletes, and the same has been intimated to the national federation (the BCCI) and the ICC," a source confirmed to news agency PTI.
Under current anti-doping regulations, athletes in the RTP must constantly update their location details to ensure testers can reach them at any time. While a single missed test serves as a warning, three such failures within a specific period can be classified as a doping violation and may lead to suspension.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has acknowledged receiving the NADA notification and pledged to address the issue proactively. "Yes, we have received notification from NADA on missed tests. We will check with them as to how it happened, and will take necessary steps so that such things do not happen in the future," a BCCI source stated.
This incident carries added significance as cricket prepares for its return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028, bringing stricter anti-doping protocols into sharper focus. Currently, 13 Indian cricketers are listed in NADA's RTP, including prominent names like Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant.
For young athletes like Jaiswal and Verma, this serves as a crucial reminder that with great talent comes greater responsibility—both on and off the field. As the sporting world moves toward cleaner competition, staying compliant with anti-doping regulations is no longer just a rule; it's a cornerstone of professional athleticism.