ICC backs Kusal’s WADA compensation claim

By Madushka Balasuriya

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has agreed to support Kusal Janith Perera in his claim against the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after a mistake by a WADA-accredited laboratory in Qatar led to Perera being banned on doping charges, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced yesterday.

Perera was provisionally banned late last year and faced up to four years away from the game after a urine sample sent to the lab in Qatar had tested positive for 19-Norandrostenedione, a banned substance. 

However, in May this year an independent expert reviewed the lab’s findings and concluded that they were not sustainable.

SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala revealed that, in light of this, they had brought the matter up for discussion at the ICC CEO’s meeting in Edinburgh recently, where the committee offered “unanimous support for our claim”. This then allowed them to discuss the matter further at the ICC Board Meeting, where SLC brought up the issue of compensation.

“All the legal costs incurred by Kusal Janith [Perera], for retaining his lawyers and the board’s lawyers, as well laboratory costs will be covered. On top of this there will be a compensation fee as well,” explained Sumathipala.

“The ICC has also taken up the position that SLC’s claim regarding Kusal was fair and justifiable. The ICC wants to stand by SLC and support the claim. The ICC and SLC are together in this, with money ultimately coming from WADA, through the ICC, to Kusal.”

The process of clearing Perera’s name had been a lengthy and expensive affair, with nearly Rs. 15 million spent on lawyers’ fees, flights to England and France to conduct a polygraph test - which Perera passed convincingly - and a costly hair sample test, among other expenses. 

As far as the compensation amount they are expecting, Sumathipala said it would need to be at least Rs. 35 million, taking into consideration the earnings Perera missed out on while he was suspended. The ban saw the explosive opener miss Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand late last year as well as their Asia Cup and World T20 campaigns.

The Qatar laboratory that was at fault meanwhile has been suspended by WADA, an unprecedented move according to Sumathipala.

“This is the first time this has ever happened, not just in cricket, but in the world of sports. I don’t think WADA has ever had to deal with this kind of situation in the past.”