Niroshan Dickwella Cleared to Play Again as Doping Ban is Lifted
Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella, banned in August 2024 for doping violations, is cleared to play after a successful appeal. The 31-year-old has 2,757 Test runs, 1,604 ODI runs, and 480 T20I runs but faced disciplinary issues, including a 2021 bio-bubble breach. Dickwella now aims to rebuild his career and regain trust following the lifted suspension.
Sri Lanka is all set to have their star wicketkeeper-batter, Niroshan Dickwella, back in action as his doping ban has been lifted. Dickwella, 31, was handed a three-year suspension by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) in August 2024 after testing positive for a prohibited substance during a random test. However, he successfully appealed the decision by providing evidence that the substance was unrelated to performance enhancement and not consumed during competition, leading to the immediate revocation of his ban.
This marks a critical moment for Dickwella, who last played for Sri Lanka in March 2023 during a Test match against New Zealand, where he struggled with poor form. Despite being recalled for the T20I series against Bangladesh in March 2024, he did not feature in any games. Over his career, Dickwella has scored 2,757 runs in Tests, 1,604 in ODIs, and 480 in T20Is, showcasing his talent across formats.
Ban lifted as Niroshan Dickwella granted permission to play cricket across all formats.
— ICC (@ICC) December 12, 2024
Details 👇https://t.co/cR5og6l60e
Dickwella’s career, however, has been fraught with controversies, including a bio-bubble breach in 2021 with teammates Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilake. Now, with his recent clearance, Dickwella has a chance to rebuild his career and focus on consistency and discipline to contribute to Sri Lanka’s cricketing success.
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