ICC gets all-clear on drug tests at ICC Cricket World Cup 2007

The ICC today confirmed all drug tests for prohibited substances during the ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies produced negative results.

This follows a similar result from testing at the ICC Champions Trophy in India in October and November 2006, the two events that the ICC has held involving Full Members since it signed up to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code in July 2006.

During the Caribbean tournament that spanned March and April 2007, 15 of the tournament's 51 matches, including both semi-finals and the final, plus two warm-up matches, were randomly selected for testing.

Two players from each team involved in those matches were randomly selected for testing, giving a total of 68 samples that were submitted for analysis. All match venues had doping control facilities and there were no reported problems or issues.

Samples given from matches in Jamaica were flown to Canada for checking while samples from all other countries went to London. All samples were checked at WADA-accredited laboratories.

ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed said: "The fact that all drug tests at the ICC Cricket World Cup proved negative is a great result for the game.

"It sends out a very positive message, something everyone connected with the game can be very proud of.

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

"Our approach to their use has been consistent and long-standing as we have tested players at our events involving Full Members since the 2002 ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.

"And with our signing of the WADA Code together with the work our Member Services department has done in producing DVDs and literature on the subject we are more committed than ever when it comes to ensuring cricket is not tarnished by performance-enhancing drugs.

"It is encouraging that five of our Full Members - Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa - are testing their players 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.

"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 the use of performance-enhancing drugs," added Mr Speed.

The ICC Anti-Doping Code can be downloaded here: