NEW DELHI: CBI director Ranjit Sinha on Tuesday came out in support of legalizing betting in sports, saying, "If there are lotteries in states, if we can have casinos in tourist resorts and if government can declare schemes for voluntary disclosure of black money, what is the harm if we legalize betting?"

But then, in a bizarre analogy, Sinha said, "Above all, do we have the enforcement agencies? If you can't enforce it, it is like you can't prevent rape, enjoy it. It is better to legalize it and earn some revenue rather than throwing up your hands."

Within minutes of his remarks, which came at the end of a discussion on "ethics and integrity in sports" at a three-day CBI conference, senior bureau officials insisted Sinha had not meant to trivialize rape and that the entire context should be considered.

Cricket icon Rahul Dravid , who spoke at the conference as special guest, said, "I think if the law enforcement authorities actually do feel that legalizing betting will lead to better governance and reduce corruption then I am all for it."

Dravid broke ranks with the BCCI and the current lot of senior national team players saying he favoured sportspersons signing the 'whereabout' clause of anti-doping agency WADA as this would reduce chances of corrupt practices in the game.

Under this agreement, a player has to sign an agreement with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to provide information about their exact location as well as engagements for three months in advance. Cricketers, with the support of BCCI, have refused to sign it saying it violated their privacy.

"I will be the first one to sign it straight away. Sportsmen should not be given a choice in these things," he said. Dravid insisted this clause needed to be applied so that innocent players do not suffer.

"These need to be enforced. Age-testing, participation in lie-detector tests, surveillance of communications, surprise dope sampling and other losses of privacy and liberty will unfortunately be inconveniences that every athlete -- even those who would never cheat -- will have to bear with as part of the bargain," he said.

"It will be an unfortunate new reality for the majority of athletes who play their game honestly and with integrity. But then sport is fighting no simple battle -- it is never easy to overcome a challenge when it comes as much from within as without," Dravid said.

"You need more regulation, security agencies need to be more involved, polygraph tests need to be conducted...do anything but honest and good sportspersons should be protected," he added.