"Andre Russell should be grateful that he wasn't banned for two years" : Fazeer Mohammed

[MenInG]

Writing in his exclusive blog for PakPassion.net, Fazeer Mohammed discusses the impact of the ban imposed by the ICC on the career of Andre Russell and why the all-rounder's example is one for all cricketers to be wary about in terms of fulfilling their obligations in such matters.

For Andre Russell, the rest of this year will feel like forever.

In the prime of his cricketing life at the age of 28, and with his value in the lucrative T20 format of the game increasing significantly following a phenomenally successful 2016, the Jamaican all-rounder is now cast into the wilderness, banned from the sport in which he has already earned so much and also brought so much success and delight all over the world.

Barring an overturning of the decision on appeal, he is now serving a one-year suspension from all officially-sanctioned cricket following a decision handed down January 31 by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission after he failed to fulfil the whereabouts requirements of the anti-doping regulations three times between January and July of 2015.

Instead of feeling aggrieved and bitter though, Russell should be grateful that he was not banned for two years, which appeared likely given the efforts by the international sporting organisations to clamp down on the abuse of banned performance-enhancing substances.

Patrick Foster, the cricketer’s lawyer, maintains that his client is a “clean athlete.” But that really isn’t the issue, which might appear to be a contradiction in the context of a discussion on doping in sport. What this clearly appears to be is a case of negligence on Russell’s part rather than enhancing performance illegally. It should serve as an object lesson to Caribbean cricketers, many of whom may have a very relaxed attitude towards anti-doping processes and procedures.

Of course, Pakistan has had its own very recent experience with a doping violation involving a prominent player, so there is no need to re-tell the Yasir Shah saga in this context.

Russell’s argument about a lack of experience in filing the required paperwork on his whereabouts and preoccupation with many international cricket commitments in Twenty20 franchise tournaments across the globe always sounded weak. It no doubt comes across as extremely burdensome for active young men and women to have to continuously advise authorities exactly where they are in the world, but this is what the modern sporting personality effectively signs up for when they seek to develop their careers on the international stage.

All major sporting organisations regularly counsel their competitors on the need to be extremely vigilant, both in what they consume and in fulfilling the anti-doping administrative requirements. There is no special consideration for West Indians, who may be presumed to be laid-back and lackadaisical, when it comes to meeting these standards.

Cricket has been slow to come up to mark with the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It was actually ten years ago that the International Cricket Council signed on to the WADA code, but it would be another five years before the “whereabouts” clause was accepted by the international umbrella organisation for the sport.

As has been the case for the universal application of television review technology, it was the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which led the resistance to players having to continuously keep authorities advised of their movements. It is understood that several of their prominent stars at the time objected to the requirement on the basis of it being a violation of their fundamental right to privacy and that it also posed a security threat.

Skepticism over the integrity of the process was fuelled last year when the initial two-year ban imposed on Sri Lankan wicket-keeper-batsman Kusal Perera was overturned after an accredited laboratory in Qatar was revealed to have botched the analysis of his urine sample. Yet whatever its failings or shortcomings, the WADA code is now essentially the ICC code and players are expected to come up to scratch or pay the penalty.

In the case of Russell, the task will be to put the entire experience into perspective, even if he continues to hold out hope that a legal challenge could still see him cleared to resume playing sooner rather than later.

Yes, the money he earns as one of the most versatile and successful Twenty20 cricketers around will be missed. But as with any sports personality of note who is forced onto the sidelines for whatever reason, the real loss is the inability to be part of the contest, whether it’s for Twenty20 World Champions West Indies or any of the franchise teams for whom he has already played key roles in their title successes everywhere from the Caribbean to Australia.

That includes Islamabad United, who are commencing the defence of the Pakistan Super League title without his services. Steven Finn is not a bad replacement as a fast bowler, but there are few in the game to surpass Russell's lower-order power-hitting.

If nothing else, Russell would have learnt a difficult lesson, one which his contemporaries all over the world, including Pakistan, dare not ignore.

[Syed1]

Should have thought about that before skipping all those drug testing requests.

[Donal Cozzie]

He's not a clean athlete though, according to the WADA rules he's missed 3 tests so he's failed a doping test, so he's a cheat.

Should have been made pay a large fine and return the WT20 medal he dishonestly obtained. Zero sympathy for drugs cheats, but watch, this time next year he'll go for top dollar to an IPL side and be treated like a God. Zero justice really.

[Sub-Zero]

big loss for IU

[MenInG]

He's not a clean athlete though, according to the WADA rules he's missed 3 tests so he's failed a doping test, so he's a cheat.

Should have been made pay a large fine and return the WT20 medal he dishonestly obtained. Zero sympathy for drugs cheats, but watch, this time next year he'll go for top dollar to an IPL side and be treated like a God. Zero justice really.

Fazeer's mentioned how he feels Andre is lucky to get away with a one year ban.

[Moh@n]

Fazeer's mentioned how he feels Andre is lucky to get away with a one year ban.

So was Yasir Shah. I really don't understand the leniency in such cases.

[super hitter]

Fazeer's mentioned how he feels Andre is lucky to get away with a one year ban.

So was Yasir Shah. I really don't understand the leniency in such cases.

In cricket, using drugs is not as big of a crime as football, tennis etc

[MenInG]

In cricket, using drugs is not as big of a crime as football, tennis etc

I think its a crime everywhere. Any unfair advantage needs being dealt with correctly

[super hitter]

I think its a crime everywhere. Any unfair advantage needs being dealt with correctly

I agree, but the point is that if tennis gives a two year ban to Sharapova then 1 year ban for russell is enough since cricket is a teams game afterall

[Adil_94]

why isnt Fazeer in PSL. always enjoy his commentary a very knowledgable guy

[Haroon786]

Great comments by Fazeer.

One of the best commentators in the game.

[Rayyman]

Fazeer has a great memory.

[Abdullah719]

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell is facing the prospect of an extension to his one-year ban for a doping whereabouts rule violation.

Jamaica's anti-doping commission (JADCO) is pushing for the maximum two-year suspension to be imposed on the 28-year-old Russell, who was banned in January for one year.

JADCO chief executive Carey Brown said on Wednesday that his organisation had filed an appeal with Jamaica's five-member anti-doping Appeals Tribunal.

'(JADCO) has appealed,' Brown said.

Russell, a two-times Twenty20 World Cup winner, was revealed to have committed the violation a year ago after registering three filing failures in 2015. That constituted a failed drugs test under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.

In his absence, the West Indies face a whitewash at home in the one-day international series against England.

Eoin Morgan's side head into the third match in Barbados having sealed series victory with victories in Antigua.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cri...violation.html

[MenInG]

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/s...s-one-year-ban

Jamaica and West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell is pushing back after submitting an appeal to have his one-year ban for a doping whereabouts rule violation dismissed.

The well-known cricketer committed three filing violations in 2015, which constitutes a failed drugs test under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.

The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) themselves recently launched an appeal to have Russell's 12-month ban extended to the maximum two years, which can be handed out for the offence.

In a document obtained by The Gleaner, Russell and his team called for the dismissal of JADCO's action, arguing that there are no grounds for the suspension to be extended.


"The respondent's position is that the Amended Notice of Appeal ought to be dismissed by the Anti-Doping Tribunal as there is no basis to set aside the one-year sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Panel to impose a period of ineligibility of two years," the document read, while noting that the panel had determined based on the evidence presented that a one year sanction was sufficient.

In a second document, which like the first was dated March 20, 2017 and addressed to the Jamaica Anti-Doping Appeals Tribunal, Russell called for the dismissal of his one-year suspension, arguing among other things, that the Disciplinary Panel failed to consider his submission that there were irregularities in a recording of a third filing failure, while pointing to several notification issues.

[Muhammad10]

Andre Russell has submitted an appeal to have his one-year ban for a doping whereabouts rule violation dismissed #cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 23, 2017

[MenInG]

West Indies allrounder Andre Russell will play his first competitive cricket match in a year when he represents Jamaica Scorpions in the Regional Super50, West Indies' domestic 50-over competition on Friday in Antigua.

Jamaica Scorpions, the 2017 runners up, will take on Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in what is their first match of the season. The match is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm (1:00 pm Jamaica time).

The 29-year-old Russell is free to play cricket again having served a year-long ban for violating the whereabouts clause under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.

An independent tribunal in Jamaica found Russell guilty of the charge and banned him from playing any cricket between January 31, 2017 and January 30 this year.

A three-member tribunal comprising Hugh Faulkner, Dr Marjorie Vassell and Dixeth Palmer, a former Jamaica cricketer, found Russell guilty of being negligent in filing his whereabouts on three separate occasions within a 12-month period in 2015. Under the WADA rules, that amounts to a failed dope test.

Russell is one of the most sought-after players in T20 leagues around the world and is not expected to represent Jamaica Scorpions in all their eight matches in the Super50 as he is down to play in the Pakistan Super League, which starts in Dubai on February 22.

Recently, along with his West Indies team-mate Sunil Narine, Russell was one of the two players retained by Kolkata Knight Riders before the IPL auction. Knight Riders paid Russell INR 8.5 crore ($1.33 million approx.) for the retention.

And just before Russell returns to competitive cricket, Cricket West Indies announced last week that the hard-hitting batsman was one of the four players that had decided to skip the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers, which run parallel to the Pakistan Super League.

The CWI media release quoted Courtney Browne, chairman of selectors, saying Russell, along with the Trinidad & Tobago trio of Narine, Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard had opted to play in the Pakistan Super League instead of the Qualifiers.

But following the CWI media release, Johnny Grave, the CWI's chief executive officer, clarified that he understood Russell's position. He explained that Russell had told the selectors that he is still keen to play for West Indies in the ODI and T20 formats, but he needs time to regain his match fitness and confidence.

Even before he was banned, Russell had only been playing T20 cricket for West Indies. His last ODI appearance was in 2015.

After the Pakistan Super League, Russell will head to India for the IPL.

For the Super50, Jamaica Scorpions and Leeward Islands Hurricanes are drawn in Group B along with Guyana Jaguars, Kent County Cricket Club United States of America.

Zone B will be played in Antigua at the picturesque Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground and Coolidge Cricket Ground, which will against host the LIVE televised matches

Zone A will be played in Barbados at the historic Kensington Oval, The 3Ws Oval and the Windward Cricket Ground. It consists of defending champs, Barbados Pride, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners, Windward Islands Volcanoes and Hampshire County Cricket Club.

The tournament started on January 30 and concludes on February 24 at Coolidge Cricket Ground. The winning team will take home the Clive Lloyd Trophy.

http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/a...-year-long-ban

[DRsohail]

@Saj when are u people coming with another interview of this Fazeer guy.

[MenInG]

Star West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has hinted at a possible return for the Caribbean side at this year's ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.

Russell hasn't featured for the West Indies since last year's ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai, but the veteran could be in line for a swift return to international cricket at this year's 20-over showcase.

The veteran was quizzed by former team-mate Daren Sammy about his international availability prior to a domestic match in England and Russell said he still harbours aspirations to win another World Cup for his side.

"I always want to play and give back," Russell told Sky Sports.

"But at the end of the day, if we are not agreeing on certain terms...they have to respect my terms as well. At the end of the day, it is what it is.

"We have families and we have to make sure that we give our best opportunity while we have one career.

"It's not like I can start over again. I'm 34 and I want to win another World Cup - or two more - for West Indies because at the end of the day, I'm here now, and I'm just taking it day by day."

Russell has played 67 T20Is and has been a part of both West Indies’ successful T20 World Cup winning teams as a two-time winner of the coveted trophy in 2012 and 2016, but the 34-year-old is yet to fully commit to playing in Australia.

West Indies coach Phil Simmons recently vented his frustration at the non-availability of key players at international level, with the likes of Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine and Russell all still up in their air with just under two months to the start of the T20 World Cup.

But Russell insisted he is keen to be involved.

"Of course, of course. The maroon is all over," Russell said.

"Honestly, I have two franchise hundreds and I wish those hundreds were actually playing for West Indies.

"I don't regret saying this just now. I really enjoyed playing for Jamaica Tallawahs but those two hundreds, it would be more special coming in international cricket."

Following his stint in England, Russell will return to the West Indies to play for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the month-long Caribbean Premier League that commences at the end of this month.

West Indies legend and current lead selector Desmond Haynes suggested strong performances during this tournament will be pivotal in deciding who features at the T20 World Cup.'

"If there is a competition that is run by the West Indies (and) somebody is playing well, I think his name should really come up for selection," Haynes said recently.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2747073