New Delhi: Players participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) would be subjected to random dope tests starting today by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) team.

IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi said as per the ICC rules the WADA team would go about collecting samples from players from today.

"There are surprise dope tests to begin today. The (WADA) team from Sweden has already come down. We don't know which team will be subjected to the tests first or which player's samples would be taken first," Modi said.

"As per the ICC rules, the WADA team is here and the dope tests will start immediately," he added.

The WADA team arrives close on the heels of media reports that Kolkata Knight Riders Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar carried an unusually high number of syringes in his baggage while coming here.

Modi, however, rubbished the reports.

"I have verified the reports, no such things were found," the BCCI vice-President said.

Interestingly, Akhtar had been banned after testing positive for performance enhancing drug nandrolone during the Champions Trophy in 2006.

Another IPL participant, retired Aussie spin wizard Shane Warne, who is the captain-cum-coach Rajasthan Royals, had also served a one-year ban after testing positive for banned diuretics during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

The ICC rules on doping adhere to the WADA code which lists a two-year ban for a first-time offender and a life-ban for any dope violation the next time.

Source : PTI