WADA asserts NADA has authority to test BCCI cricketers

WADA asserts NADA has authority to test BCCI cricketers

no photo

|

Getty Images

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has made it clear that the BCCI still falls under the jurisdiction of NADA as far as all doping tests are concerned. A WADA coordinator also confirmed that the world body is in talks with Organisations that fall under its Compliance Monitoring Program about the issue.

The BCCI-WADA war started in April when WADA, during an audit of the National Anti-Doping Agency’s anti-doping programme, realized that the BCCI neither recognized the authority of NADA nor did it permit the WADA-affiliated body to implement any anti-doping regime in Indian cricket. However, the ICC sided with the Indian board stating that they were satisfied with measures taken by the BCCI to prevent any doping in the sport. But they admitted that it was necessary to conduct “out-of-competition testing” and for it to be effective, the whereabouts of the players when he/she is not participating is important.

An official close to the Sports Ministry then confirmed that they were planning to take the BCCI to court should they continue to resist the implementation of NADA’s rules. In the latest development, WADA have rejected the BCCI's claim that NADA held no jurisdiction to conduct dope tests explaining that "all residents, licence-holders or members of sports organisations in India" fell under the jurisdiction of NADA.

"Pursuant to the World Anti-Doping Code, Nada India has testing authority over athletes who are nationals, residents, licence-holders or members of sports organisations in India or who are present in India," Maggie Durand,  WADA's media relations and communications coordinator, told TOI.

"BCCI has prevented Nada India from conducting testing on athletes from the sport of cricket. WADA is currently addressing this issue with the relevant Anti-Doping Organisations within its Compliance Monitoring Program." 

TOI also reported that the sports ministry backs WADA’s decision and are planning to exert some pressure on the BCCI themselves. 

"The ministry plans to build more pressure on BCCI through Wada, bringing ICC into the picture. The matter needs to be resolved between Wada and ICC," the source added.

Get updates! Follow us on

Open all