Reports | Sports Ministry withholds visa letters for South Africa till BCCI falls in line with NADA
BCCI’s steadfast refusal to comply with the National Anti Doping Agency has irked the Sports Ministry which decided not to issue letters required for visa processing of foreign teams. South Africa’s men, women and ‘A’ teams’ visa procedure has been pending due to the same reason.
Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has hired International Doping Tests and Management (IDTM), a Sweden-based firm, to collect the samples of its cricketers and even BCCI’s anti-doping manager, Dr Abhijeet Salvi had recently said that all domestic cricketers senior, junior and women will come under the process. However, there is pressure on the BCCI from the Union Sports Ministry to allow the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to collect the samples of its cricketers for testing.
While the ministry wants the Board to allow NADA to collect samples, the Indian board is doing it through their own system and is opposed to the anti-doping agency’s involvement. Recently, BCCI had hinted that it would allow NADA to Test cricketers on a trial basis for six months but the ministry insists that only total compliance is an acceptable solution.
A Mumbai Mirror report, however, stated that South Africa’s men, women and ‘A’ teams are scheduled to visit India over the next one month have faced a problem as their visa procedure has been pending since the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs hasn’t sent across an invitation letter to the concerned embassy. The A-series starts on August 27 and there is no clarity regarding that so far.
Sports Secretary RS Julaniya told the paper, “We are awaiting a confirmation from BCCI that it would abide by the rules and regulations promoted by the government so as to ensure fair play and fair treatment to all athletes. Rule of law mandates that law is equal for all and everybody is equal before the law, including BCCI and athletes registered by it. The issue of NOC is delayed by BCCI, not by the government.”
The fact of the matter is government permission is not required to host a bilateral series, except against Pakistan, but the embassys do ask for an invitation letter from the Sports Ministry before issuing visas to visiting team members. India are to host Bangladesh and West Indies later in the year and BCCI has already requested the ministry to issue invitation letters for the two teams.