BCCI IN TROUBLE

BCCI feels the heat over anti-doping stand

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Johri has briefed the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrator (CoA) about some "new and urgent issues" on the anti-doping policy of both BCCI and as a consequence ICC. © Agencies

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) is feeling the heat from the International Cricket Council (ICC) over its resistance to come under the umbrella of the National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada).

TOI has reliably learnt that the BCCI has called an urgent meeting of its officials - including the office-bearers, CEO Rahul Johri and the legal team - in Kolkata next week in the light of fresh developments which could have major implications.

TOI understands that the world anti-doping body (Wada) has put pressure on the ICC to bring BCCI under Nada. BCCI has been very rigid on its stand and stuck with an independent private agency (IDTM) for conducting dope tests according to Wada norms. ICC is compliant with Wada while BCCI - while refusing compliance with Nada - has reiterated that the board is compliant with Wada as it is a full member of the ICC. The BCCI has also contested that it is not a national sports federation.

According to sources, Johri has briefed the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrator (CoA) about some "new and urgent issues" on the anti-doping policy of both BCCI and as a consequence ICC. "Chairman of CoA Vinod Rai is of the view that these have long-term implications and that the views of the office-bearers need to be taken to ascertain future policy," sources close to the development told TOI.

Confirming the development, a senior Nada official told TOI that a lot of discussions have taken place behind the scenes between the Nada, Wada and ICC after BCCI dismissed the warning from Wada last year.

It is also learnt that Nada had tried to revive efforts to dope-test cricketers a couple of months ago after getting a go-ahead from the sports ministry. It even reached out to both the Wada and ICC on the issue. Following BCCI's reluctance, Wada warned the ICC of sanctions since it's the latter's job - as the sport's world governing body - to make its member nations comply with the anti-doping measures. ICC, it is learnt, has briefed BCCI about the seriousness of the situation which could potentially lead to ICC losing its compliance with the Wada code.

The Nada official informed that the agency was involved in one-to-one discussion with offices of ICC chairman Shashank Manohar and Wada director general Olivier Niggli.

According to a Nada source, the matter was never swept under the carpet as perceived by many following a meeting of sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore with Johri and BCCI GM (game development) Ratnakar Shetty in February, but was just put on hold for a while.

"Look, everybody is on the same page that dope testing of Indian cricketers has to be done (by Nada) and the whole issue has to be tackled properly. That's the majority consensus," the source added.

(WITH INPUTS FROM SABI HUSSAIN)

© TNN