BCCI Defends Anti Doping Policy

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Saturday (May 27) defended its anti-doping policy, saying it is fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code and has adopted the anti-doping rules laid down by the International Cricket Council.

Objecting to the remarks made by National Anti-Doping Agency director general Navin Agarwal that BCCI's anti-doping operations are "unsupervised and not transparent," the Board's general manager (administration and game development) Ratnakar Shetty, said BCCI is answerable only to WADA and ICC. "The BCCI anti-doping code is updated annually and can be found on the BCCI as well as IPL websites. The BCCI has adopted certain rules to impose prohibitions and controls to maintain the integrity of the sport, to protect the health and rights of all the participants in cricket and to keep the sport of cricket free from doping. Since 2010, BCCI has been conducting pre-season anti-doping education programmes for cricketers and support staff of state associations," Shetty said.

"The BCCI files whereabouts information of the top 11 cricketers in the country based on the latest ICC player rankings. The information is submitted on WADA's antidoping administration and management system (ADAMS). We get our samples tested at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) in New Delhi. The laboratory sends the test report to BCCI and a copy is sent to ICC and WADA to ensure accountability. So where do we lack in transparency?" he asked.

Terming Agarwal's statement as "irresponsible", Shetty said that the NADA chief ought to have confirmed facts with BCCI before going public with his views.

NADA's proposed plans to test domestic cricketers also drew flak. "We are already doing it. We commenced testing at the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 while testing at other domestic tournaments - Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy etc. started during 2012-13. Since then, BCCI has been collecting 200-250 urine samples each season (both incompetition and out-of-competition). As per WADA 2013 and 2015 anti-doping testing figures documents, BCCI conducts the maximum number of tests amongst all the cricket nations. If NADA is keen on testing domestic cricketers, they will have to first approach us with the proposal. We will respond to it then."

Asked whether BCCI would accept NADA's jurisdiction and consider its suggestion that they join the mainstream, Shetty said: "We are an autonomous sports body. We have never been part of NADA. We have made it clear from the time we introduced the testing system that we are answerable to WADA and ICC. We are doing everything WADA wants. We are affiliated to ICC and implement their instructions."

NADA Chief Agarwal responds:

On dope testing: "It is not an ideal situation when a federation which selects players also does dope tests on them. The whole process becomes non-transparent and comes under a cloud.Many questions arise: Are they picking and choosing players to test? Are they testing the key players? We have issues with that.

Test planning ought to be done an independent body which will decide will have to be tested and when."

On NADA's jurisdiction: "How can BCCI say they are not answerable to NADA? We are authorised to carry out anti-doping exercise in the country and with BCCI being a national federation will have to accept our authority."