He added that a revised Code would be placed for international approval at the WADA convention in Madrid next month. “With the new code, a lot of loopholes will be taken care of, and more fairness can be expected in sports, especially those who believe they are immune to doping—like golf and may be cricket,” said Howman.

The director general said the International Cricket Council’s late tie-up with WADA resulted in two “drug cheats” walking away scot-free. He said: “Had the ICC been a little proactive about it, the two Pakistani pacers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who had tested positive for nandrolone, would not have gone free.”

However, drawing positives from the episode, Howman said he was happy that the controversy led to the ICC taking corrective measures and signing the WADA code. “It ensures that there will be no bungling in such matters from now on,” Howman said.