TCCB To Speed Up Drugs Discipline (12 Nov 1996)

12 November 1996

TCCB to speed up drugs discipline

By Charles Randall

NEW measures designed to reduce delay in disciplinary procedure are likely to be introduced by the Test and County Cricket Board next year as a result of last summer`s Ed Giddins cocaine case.

The authorities, who admit they have "learnt a lot" from the Giddins affair, are determined there will be no repeat of the fivemonth time span from the first positive drug test on the Sussex seam bowler in early June to the rejection of his appeal at Lord`s last Friday.

A recommendation is to be put to the TCCB meeting in December that a player should be suspended immediately detection of a substance is confirmed, with a hearing following within two weeks.

The stigma attached to Giddins - he was required to play almost the entire summer for Sussex under suspicion - reflected poorly on the TCCB, though the five-week delay from the first positive test to confirmation was more the fault of the Sports Council, who administered the system.

Richard Little, a TCCB spokesman, said yesterday: "There is going to be a firming up of procedures. We want to get it done as swiftly as we can."

Giddins, who claimed he had taken cocaine unwittingly through a spiked drink, was suspended until April 1998 by the TCCB, who rejected his appeal against the severity of the punishment. Sussex dismissed him in August when the verdict was announced.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)