ICC gets all-clear on drug tests at ICC Champions Trophy 2006

The ICC today announced all drug tests for prohibited substances during the ICC Champions Trophy in India produced negative results.

The tournament was the ICC's first involving Full Members since it signed the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code in July 2006.

Six of the tournament's 21 matches were randomly selected for testing, including one semi-final and the final.

Two players from each team were randomly selected and tested, giving a total of 24 tests that were submitted for analysis to a WADA-accredited laboratory in Malaysia.

ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed said: "Our approach to drug use has been consistent and long-standing as we have tested players at all our events involving Full Members since the 2002 ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.

"That approach has been reinforced by our signing of the WADA Code earlier this year, and the fact all the tests conducted at the ICC Champions Trophy have been negative is great news for our sport.

"It confirms cricket's reputation for being low risk when it comes to drug use but that does not mean the ICC, or any of our Members, can afford to be complacent in this area.

"To this end, five of our Full Members - Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa - are already testing outside of ICC events and the West Indies is set to join that list in the near future.

"We would encourage all our remaining Full Members not already doing so to follow suit for the good of the game.

"That way, if cricket does have a drug-related problem - and I do not believe it has - it can be identified and dealt with so that we make sure our sport gets stronger as a result.

"We should never forget that cricketers are role models and they need to be sending out the right messages to the public, and that is one of the reasons why we must continue to have a zero tolerance on drug use," added Mr Speed.