Rahul left out of squad for first ODI

Dope-tainted Rahul Sharma will not be considered for India’s playing XI for the first ODI against Sri Lanka at Hambantota on Saturday – after the legspinner’s blood sample taken during the Indian Premier League in May was declared positive late on Friday night.

Rahul, who made his ODI debut for India against West Indies in December last year and plays for Pune Warriors India in the IPL, was detained by police at a rave party in Juhu, Mumbai, in May. He has ever since denied that he took drugs.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has made it clear that it won’t treat the matter in a hasty way. Vice-president and IPL chairmain Rajiv Shukla said, “Won't take action against Rahul Sharma in haste. First we will study the report, accordingly we will proceed. We can figure out why it took so much time for the Mumbai police to submit this report.”

The dope-tainted legspinner\'s blood samples taken during IPL 5 were declared positive on Friday.

Rahul's father also defended his son. “Our son can’t do this. He is not like this. This could be conspiracy against my son.”

However, no decision has yet been taken to whether or not call him back from the Sri Lanka tour, where India is scheduled to kick off a five-match ODI series on Saturday.

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