Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella has been cleared to play cricket across all formats after receiving a three-year suspension in August 2024 for a suspected anti-doping violation. The Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) banned the 31-year-old after he tested positive for a banned drug in a random test.
Niroshan Dickwella's successful appeal
Dickwella filed an appeal, presenting proof that the chemical in question was not used during the competition time and had nothing to do with improving athletic performance. His appeal was successful, and the prohibition was immediately revoked.
For Dickwella, who last played for Sri Lanka in a Test match against New Zealand in Christchurch in March 2023, this choice is a sea change. He only managed seven runs in the first Test, which led to his dismissal. He did not play in any of the games despite being picked up by the T20I team for the Bangladesh series in March 2024.
Dickwella's ban lifted
Dickwella's career has been turbulent, filled with both triumphs and setbacks. He has amassed 2,757 Test runs, 1,604 ODI runs, and 480 T20I runs and has been a vital performer in all forms. Dickwella has had disciplinary problems throughout his career despite his talent, including a significant suspension in 2021 for violating bio-bubble protocols with colleagues Danushka Gunathilake and Kusal Mendis.
Dickwella recently captained the Galle Marvels in the Lanka Premier League of 2024, although he was involved in yet another doping scandal. Sri Lanka Cricket suspended him indefinitely after he failed a drug test administered in accordance with World Anti-drug regulations. In August 2024, he was suspended from all cricket-related activities while an investigation was conducted.
He will try to rebuild his career and regain confidence in his abilities now that he has been cleared. He has undoubted skill as a wicketkeeper-batter, but in order to secure his spot in Sri Lankan cricket history, he will need to concentrate on consistency and discipline.
