Four Indian cricketers who were banned for using prohibited substances

Cricket has been marred by using prohibited substances that have been banned by the World Cricket Governing Council. There have been clear guidelines issued by the World Cricket Governing Body. However, there are players who do find themselves using the substances unknowingly. The reason for this is the name of the substances are not something that can be remembered easily.

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The players who have used these substances weren't aware of the impact it will have. Notably, the laws regarding this state that the players will be banned for a few months. This includes the players using performance enhancers. In other sports, using performance enhancers can lead to a life ban unlike in cricket. In this listicle, we will shed light on four Indian players who were banned for using prohibited substances.

Four players who were banned

Pradeep Sangwan (Image Credit : BCCI/IPL)

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1. Pradeep Sangwan

The left-arm pacer is the first Indian Male professional cricketer to be banned for using prohibited substances. He was banned for 18 months for using Anabolic steroids in 2013. The Indian Cricket Board found him guilty of using the substance. For the unversed, the substances are used to quicken the fat burning and muscle building. Some athletes, weightlifters and bodybuilders have used the substance in the past and some still do.

Health care providers can prescribe steroids to treat hormonal issues, such as delayed puberty. Steroids can also treat diseases that cause muscle loss, such as cancer and AIDS. But some athletes and bodybuilders misuse these drugs in an attempt to boost performance or improve their physical appearance.

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Anshula Rao (Image Credit : Twitter)

2. Anshula Rao

She is the first Indian Female cricketer to be banned for using a performance enhancer. Notably, she did it knowingly and intentionally and was banned for four years backdated to July 2020. The substance she was found using was 19-Norandrosterone. The panel that banned the Madhya Pradesh player found out that she failed to explain how the substance entered her body.

Nandrolone and other 19‐norsteroid potent anabolic steroids have been prohibited in sports for 30 years. The detection of the main urinary metabolite—19‐norandrosterone—in amounts greater than 2 ng/ml constitutes an adverse analytical finding. 

Yusuf Pathan (Image Credit : Twitter)

3. Yusuf Pathan

The former India player, who was part of the 2007 20-20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup-winning squad was slapped with a backdated five-month ban. Pathan was found using Terbutaline which is used in cough syrups. He wasn't aware of the substance which is why he was banned for only a short period unlike the above two.

Terbutaline is used to prevent and treat wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness caused by asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Terbutaline is in a class of medications called beta agonists. It works by relaxing and opening the airways, making it easier to breathe. 

Prithvi Shaw (Image Credit : Twitter)

4. Prithvi Shaw

The rising star from Mumbai was found guilty of using the same substance which got Yusuf Pathan into trouble. The right-hander was found guilty of using the substance in 2019. He had said that he wasn't aware of the substance in the cough syrup which he bought from over the top counter.

Despite the substance being harmless and not a performance enhancer, the substance has been banned for unexplained reasons. Taking about the ban, he was slapped with an eight-month retrospective ban.