Sri Lankan left-hand batsman Upul Tharanga failed a random doping test during the Cricket World Cup, a Colombo newspaper said Sunday, though the ICC declined to confirm the report. Tharanga has already retained a lawyer to defend himself at an upcoming International Cricket Council inquiry, Sri Lanka’s Sunday Times said, quoting unnamed sources.
It said Tharanga has claimed that he was given a steroid by a faith healer in Colombo who also treated other international players. “There’s nothing I can say at this stage,” ICC spokesman James Fitzgerald told AFP in an email response to the report. Sri Lanka Cricket, the sport’s national governing body, said it was unaware of any failed dope test. “We have not been informed of any allegation like this,” SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said.
Tharanga opened against England in the World Cup semi-finals and scored an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka won by 10 wickets. He then played in the final, where Sri Lanka lost to India. He is not part of the Sri Lankan side currently on tour in England.
