All Indian cricketers will now be tested by NADA, says Sports secretary
Sports secretary Radheshyam Jhulaniya has revealed that all Indian cricketers will be subjected to regular doping tests after a recent meeting with BCCI senior officials. Earlier, the Indian sports ministry had also stated that the BCCI must adhere to the NADA guidelines as soon as possible.
On Friday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has agreed to come under the guidelines specified by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). In doing so, the cash-rich Indian governing body will become a National Sports Federation despite being financially autonomous institution.
Sports Secretary Radheshyam Jhulaniya, who along with NADA DG Navin Agarwal met BCCI CEO Rahul Johri along with the Board’s GM (Cricket Operations) Saba Karim on Friday. Jhulaniya revealed that the Indian governing body has given in writing that it would adhere to the anti-doping policy of NADA.
“All cricketers will now be tested by NADA. The BCCI raised three issues before us about the quality of the dope testing kits, competence of pathologists and sample collection. We assured them that whatever facilities they want, we will provide but there will be some charge for it. But that higher facility will be equal for all NSFs. BCCI is no different from others. They have to follow the law of the land," Jhulaniya was quoted as saying by PTI sources.
Earlier, the BCCI had was strongly opposed to signing up with NADA, as it claimed that it is an autonomous body and not a National Sports Federation. However, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri has now revealed that they will now abide by the Nada ambit in the coming days.
“The BCCI will agree to the law of the land. We have raised quite a few issues which the sports Secretary said will be addressed by them. We have agreed to bear the differential cost of high-quality testing,” Johri added.