The World Anti-Doping Agency has moved the International Cricket Council into its highest tier for international sports federations, with the change taking effect on January 1, 2027. The decision follows cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic programme and places the ICC under closer scrutiny of testing, results management and athlete-hearing procedures.
The ICC had been classified in tier 2 under WADA’s Code Signatory Tiers policy. India, meanwhile, remains among the top-tier signatories monitored through WADA’s Compliance Monitoring Program. Cricket is returning to the Olympic roster after more than a century.
Why WADA raised cricket’s priority
WADA said international federation tiers are determined by whether a sport is included in the Olympic or Paralympic programmes and by its combined Minimum Levels of Analysis under the Technical Document for Sport Specific Analysis. The minimum level refers to a percentage of eligible tests that must be conducted on international-level athletes.
The new classification does not itself announce a separate testing quota for the ICC. It sets a higher compliance priority as cricket prepares to operate within the Olympic system, where anti-doping requirements apply across participating sports and events.
"Cricket’s Olympic return now comes with the highest level of anti-doping oversight required of international federations."
What the ICC must meet from January 1
The top-tier framework requires timely sample collection, proper follow-up of whereabouts failures and potential anti-doping rule violations, and fair hearings within a reasonable period. Cases must be handled by an impartial and operationally independent panel, according to the compliance requirements described by WADA.
WADA’s International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories gives federations different deadlines to correct identified shortcomings. Critical requirements involving testing, results management and Therapeutic Use Exemption entries must be addressed within three months; high-priority requirements have a six-month timeline, while general data-privacy requirements must be met within nine months.
| Key Metric / Entity | Verified Detail | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|
| ICC’s previous status | Tier 2 under WADA’s signatory tiers | Cricket faced a lower level of prioritisation before Olympic inclusion |
| ICC’s new status | Tier 1 for international federations | Testing and compliance processes face the strictest scrutiny |
| Effective date | January 1, 2027 | The new requirements apply before the 2028 Olympic tournament |
| Olympic setting | Los Angeles 2028 | Cricket returns to the Games after more than 100 years |
| India | Remains in WADA’s top tier of signatories | Indian anti-doping compliance continues under close monitoring |
What the change means for players and cricket bodies
For players, the practical effect is likely to be closer attention to whereabouts information, sample collection and medical exemptions. A Therapeutic Use Exemption allows an athlete to use a prohibited substance or method for a documented medical need, but the application and record-keeping process must meet WADA rules.
For the ICC and national cricket organisations, the key task is demonstrating that testing, investigations and hearings work within the required time limits. WADA said its policy is intended to make compliance monitoring “consistent, transparent, and risk-based.”
The classification also gives Olympic stakeholders a clearer basis for assessing whether cricket’s anti-doping arrangements meet the standards applied across the Games. The International Olympic Committee’s inclusion of cricket in Los Angeles 2028 is therefore tied to operational obligations, not only competition planning.
The next confirmed steps
The tier change begins on January 1, 2027. From that date, WADA can assess the ICC against the stricter requirements and begin compliance action if critical deficiencies are not corrected within the specified periods.
The immediate focus will be on sample collection, results management, whereabouts cases, Therapeutic Use Exemptions, hearing independence and data privacy. The ICC’s Olympic preparations will proceed alongside those compliance checks, with cricket scheduled to return to the Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the International Cricket Council?
The International Cricket Council, or ICC, is cricket’s global governing body. It oversees international cricket and sets rules and standards for its member organisations and competitions.
Why did WADA upgrade the ICC?
WADA upgraded the ICC because cricket has been included in the Olympic programme for Los Angeles 2028. Olympic inclusion and the sport’s testing requirements are factors in WADA’s tier system for international federations.
When does the new ICC status take effect?
The ICC’s tier 1 classification takes effect on January 1, 2027.
What must the ICC do under the top tier?
It must meet stricter requirements for testing, results management, whereabouts investigations, Therapeutic Use Exemptions, fair hearings and data privacy. Critical, high-priority and general shortcomings have correction deadlines of three, six and nine months respectively.
