Notices served but no violation yet

Indian cricketers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shafali Verma have been served official “missed test” notices by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). The agency issued the notices after both players were reportedly not available at their declared locations for out-of-competition dope tests.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also been informed. Both cricketers are part of NADA’s Registered Testing Pool (RTP), which requires them to regularly update their whereabouts for surprise sample collection.

At this stage, this is not an anti-doping violation. But the development has drawn attention because repeated failures can lead to disciplinary action under NADA’s code.

What happened with Jaiswal and Shafali?

According to a India Today report, NADA officials attempted to test Jaiswal on December 17 last year. Shafali’s scheduled test was on November 7. On both occasions, the players were not found at the locations they had submitted to the agency.

NADA later asked both to explain the situation. Jaiswal reportedly received the communication on February 18, while Shafali got hers on February 20. No response came within the given time, so the agency recorded their first missed tests.

Under NADA rules, athletes in the RTP must provide a specific time slot and exact location where a Doping Control Officer can reach them for surprise testing — even during off-season or personal breaks.

Three failures within a year can bring suspension

A single missed test does not automatically mean a rule violation. But three whereabouts failures within 12 months can be treated as an anti-doping violation. If a player fails to defend themselves before NADA’s hearing panel, they could face a suspension of up to two years.

The system is designed to ensure athletes remain available for random testing at all times — outside tournaments, training camps, or personal travel.

Crucial time for both cricketers

The notices have come at an important stage in their careers. Jaiswal is currently playing for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. The team is still fighting for a playoff spot, and any distraction is unwelcome.

Shafali remains a key part of India Women’s plans ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales, starting June 12. Missing tests at this stage, even procedural ones, adds unwanted attention.

A reminder of past doping cases

The incident has reminded many of Prithvi Shaw’s 2019 case. The former India opener received an eight-month suspension after testing positive for Terbutaline, a banned substance found in cough syrup. The BCCI had then clarified Shaw consumed it unintentionally.

Unlike that case, the current notices to Jaiswal and Shafali are only about missed tests — not failed samples. Still, the warnings underline how seriously NADA enforces compliance for modern athletes. Both players now have a chance to respond or update their whereabouts more carefully to avoid further notices.

Vinesh Phogat gets doping notice over missed test

The International Testing Agency has issued a notice to wrestler and Haryana MLA Vinesh Phogat for missing an out-of-competition doping test in Bengaluru on December 18, 2025, putting her on warning under the whereabouts rule. Phogat has been asked to respond by May 7, and officials said this was her first whereabouts violation in the past year.

According to the notice issued on May 4, the test was scheduled as part of routine anti-doping checks conducted outside competition hours. Such tests are meant to ensure athletes are available at the location they have declared in advance under the anti-doping whereabouts system.

The ITA’s communication says Phogat was not available when testers reached the designated place. For now, she has only received a warning, but a series of three missed tests or filing failures within a 12-month period can lead to a suspension of up to two years.

Phogat has said she was travelling from Bengaluru to Chandigarh on December 18 to attend the winter session of the Haryana Assembly. She also cited new family responsibilities and the recent birth of her child, saying she could not update her location in time because of a busy schedule.

She submitted her reply on January 19, 2026, according to the details available.

The whereabouts rule requires athletes in the testing pool to keep anti-doping agencies informed about where they will be, so they can be contacted for random testing. If an athlete is not found at the declared location, it is treated as a violation even if no banned substance is found.

For wrestlers and other elite athletes, out-of-competition testing is a regular part of the anti-doping framework and can happen at any time.

Phogat’s latest notice comes against the backdrop of a difficult two years in her wrestling career. She last competed at the Paris Olympics in 2024, where she wrestled three bouts in the 505050 kg category on August 6 before being disqualified ahead of the final after weighing 100100100 grams over the limit.

She announced her retirement from wrestling on August 8, 2024, but later reversed that decision on December 12, 2025, saying she wanted to target the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

The development also follows Phogat’s latest remarks against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. In a video posted on May 3, she said a Senior Open Ranking Wrestling Tournament is scheduled in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, from May 10 to 12, and expressed concern about competing in a place linked to the allegations she has made.

Phogat said her testimony in court is still underway and suggested it would be difficult for her to compete there with full focus. She added that if anything went wrong with any member of her team, the responsibility would lie with the Government of India.

The immediate focus now is on Phogat’s response to the ITA notice by May 7. While the first violation has brought only a warning, the matter could become more serious if additional whereabouts failures are recorded over the year. For now, the case sits at the intersection of sport, anti-doping compliance and Phogat’s active public and political profile.