• Awareness programmes having its effect 

The use of prohibited substances among local sportsmen and women in 2024 had reduced significantly in comparison to the two previous years, Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) Director General (DG) Dr. Shiromi Pilapitiya said.

She said the primary reason for the positive outlook had been the conducting of effective awareness programmes throughout the country including North east.

She said that in 2023 four sports personnel had been punished over their use of prohibited substances, while that number had stood at five in 2022.

However, Dr. Pilapitiya, pointed out that its use had declined markedly, over the last year and the reason for it had been the fruitful awareness programmes, being conducted by SLADA officials.

The SLADA had conducted urine sample tests of around 160 local sportsmen and women in 2024, to determine their use of prohibited substances, at a cost of over Rs. 10 million via the Treasury.

Of those tests carried out only three samples had returned a positive result, with 35 athletes and 20 cricketers being subjected to the process.

According to the SLADA DG, athletics and cricket were the two most prominent sports, of which players had been chosen from last year for doping tests.

Besides that, its officials had also carried out similar tests, on players plying their trade in such disciplines as weightlifting, swimming and netball.

Of the most high-profile cases to emerge during the past year, was the three-month suspension imposed on Sri Lanka wicket-keeper batter Niroshan Dickwella, over his use of cocaine to enhance his performance in international cricket.

Dickwella’s ban was subsequently lifted, after the SLADA authorities deemed that the former had accepted his guilt and that it was not directly linked to enhancing his own performance.

However, ex-netball star Semini Alwis was slapped with a four-year ban over her use of anabolic steroids.

Meanwhile, boxer Dilsara Hettiarachchi has also been found to have used prohibited substance sorbitol during last year’s Clifford Cup Boxing Championship, but his punishment is yet pending.

The bans imposed by SLADA and as per provisions stipulated for such offences by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), are not merely confined to participation in sports, but also includes association with fellow sportsmen and women, training and all related acts.

It has been noted that awareness programmes being carried out at university and school level and the input provided to sportsmen and women, of the importance of staying free from substance use via sports associations, had contributed to the reduction of positive tests.

Furthermore, Dr. Pilapitiya observed that the threat posed to sportsmen and women over the ad hoc use of banned substances, has been included as a subject to the school curriculum, as well and that around 500 teachers were being trained for this purpose.

The ex-Chairperson of SLADA Prof. Arjuna de Silva resigned from his post last year after a 13-year tenure.

In recognition of the progress made by Sri Lanka in its anti-doping measures, the International Cricket Council (ICC), has consented to conduct such tests in all tournaments organised by it.