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New Delhi: Indian cricketers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shafali Verma have reportedly received their first “missed test” notices from the National Anti-Doping Agency under anti-doping whereabouts regulations.

According to reports, the notices were issued after the players were not found at their declared locations during scheduled out-of-competition dope testing sessions conducted by doping control officials.

Both cricketers have been given an opportunity to provide explanations regarding the missed tests, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India has also been informed about the development.

Missed tests linked to whereabouts rule

Athletes included in NADA’s Registered Testing Pool (RTP) are required to regularly submit their whereabouts information, including a designated location and time slot during which they will be available for out-of-competition testing.

Under anti-doping regulations, a Doping Control Officer may arrive during the declared time period to collect samples. Failure to be available at the specified location can lead to a whereabouts failure or missed test notice.

According to reports, officials attempted to conduct Jaiswal’s scheduled dope test on December 17 last year, while Shafali Verma’s test was reportedly scheduled for November 7.

In both instances, the players were allegedly not present at the locations they had provided to the authorities.

NADA later sought explanations from the players in February this year. However, reports stated that no responses were submitted, following which the agency registered their first missed tests.

No anti-doping violation yet

A single missed test does not amount to a violation of anti-doping rules.

Under the World Anti-Doping Agency framework followed by NADA, an athlete can face disciplinary action only if three whereabouts failures occur within a 12-month period.

If an athlete fails to adequately explain repeated missed tests before the hearing panel, they may face suspension of up to two years.

At present, neither Jaiswal nor Shafali Verma has been charged with doping or consumption of banned substances.

The notices are considered procedural compliance issues under anti-doping monitoring regulations.

Important phase for both players

The development comes at a significant time for both cricketers.

Jaiswal is currently representing Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing Indian Premier League season, with the franchise still competing for a place in the playoffs.

Shafali Verma, meanwhile, continues to remain part of India’s women’s cricket set-up as preparations intensify for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in England and Wales from June 12.

Officials have not indicated whether further proceedings will follow, pending the players’ explanations before the anti-doping authorities.

Earlier doping- cases in Indian cricket

The latest development has also drawn comparisons with the anti-doping case involving Prithvi Shaw in 2019.

The former India opener had received a backdated eight-month suspension after testing positive for Terbutaline, a prohibited substance found in cough syrup.

The positive sample had been collected during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in February 2019.

The BCCI had then stated that the banned substance was consumed inadvertently through medication.

Unlike Shaw’s case, however, the notices issued to Jaiswal and Shafali Verma currently relate only to whereabouts compliance requirements and not to positive doping tests.

The incident nevertheless highlights the strict compliance obligations placed on elite athletes under anti-doping regulations and the importance of maintaining updated whereabouts information for testing authorities.