New Delhi: The National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada) will carry out tests on cricketers “whenever and wherever they want”, Sports Secretary Radheshyam Jhulaniya said on Friday, asserting that the BCCI had no option but to abide by the law of the land.
Ending years of defiance, Indian cricket’s governing body has finally agreed to come under the ambit of Nada, inching, albeit reluctantly, closer towards becoming a National Sports Federation despite being financially autonomous.
Till date, Sweden-based International Dope Testing Management (IDTM) has been collecting the cricketers’ samples and submitting them to the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL).
“IDTM was an outside agency hired by BCCI to take samples. Now that agency will be Nada. I explained to BCCI you don’t have a discretion to abide by law or not. The law applies to everyone equally,” Jhulaniya said after the landmark development following a meeting with the BCCI officials.
“Every federation is on the same footing for enforcement of law. You don’t have to sign an agreement. We categorically told them no MOU is required as law is applicable to everyone.”
The primary concern of the Board was the contentious ‘Whereabouts Clause’ with regards to Out of Competition Testing, something that all star India players have been wary of as they considered it an invasion of their privacy. On that, the top sports ministry official said,
“Yes, Nada will carry out the test whenever and wherever they want. World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) clause 5.2 gives the authority to the national anti-doping agency to carry all testing in its territory irrespective of the athletes’ country. “All athletes irrespective of their country of origin or country of citizenship come under the jurisdiction of the national anti doping agency, that’s the Wada’s charter and we are a partner.”
