Sri Lankan international cricketer Kusal Perera has had his provisional suspension lifted with immediate effect after the International Cricket Council (ICC) withdrew all disciplinary charges yesterday. The turnaround comes after the WADA-accredited laboratory in Qatar withdrew its original Adverse Analytical Finding after further investigations found that the cause of the finding may have been naturally generated. ‘We wish to make it clear that there is no evidence that Mr Perera has ever used performance-enhancing substances,’ the ICC said in a statement.

Just last week professional cyclist David Millar, who was banned for two years in 2004 after admitting to doping, condemned the manner in which the fight against doping was being administered.

At the Tackling Doping in Sport conference, Millar said that athletes were being put off coming forward with information. He criticised in particular the strict liability four-year ban that the World Anti-Doping Code has imposed since 1 January 2015 for doping offences.