BCCI stands by its players on WADA issue

Sunday witnessed the Indian cricket bosses backing the nation’s top cricketing stars who refused the sign the anti-doping  code, an issue that has raised eyebrows and fears of the BCCI with the sport’s world governing body— the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Shashank Manohar, President of the BCCI said, “We have no problem with the testing, but we have a problem with the system of testing players. We have decided to write to the International Cricket Council about the concerns raised by the players. The BCCI agrees with the players that the system of testing is unreasonable.”
This decision was taken following a BCCI working committee that met in Mumbai on Sunday  to discuss the players’ refusal to sign the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code because  the cricketers have clearly stated that it infringed their privacy.
Earlier, the country’s top players became the only stars in cricket to have shown reluctance in signing the WADA documents and the August 1 deadline set by ICC was given a miss. The players showed the unhappiness at a clause which wanted them to give details of their whereabouts for an hour between 6am and 11pm every day for the next three months to allow random out-of-competition testing.
“I must stress that the BCCI wants cricket to be free of doping and we have no objection to players being tested during competitions. If at all WADA wants to test any Indian player, they can inform the BCCI and we will produce the player within 24 hours for testing. But the clause of providing details of their whereabouts is unreasonable for three reasons: One, there is a security cover for some players and it is not right to disclose their whereabouts in advance. Two, the privacy of a player cannot be invaded. And three, the constitution of India gives a guarantee to an individual that his privacy cannot be invaded 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” Manohar said.
There are nine Indian male and two female players who were registered for dope testing by the ICC, both during tournaments or random out-of-competition.
The male players in the list are world batting record holder Sachin Tendulkar, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan and Munaf Patel.
Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj are the two women players in the list.
The BCCI meeting heard in person the views of Dhoni, Harbhajan and Yuvraj in the presence of an ICC official.
According to WADA rules, anyone missing three doping tests over 18 months faces a ban of up to two years.
ICC Media and Communications Manager in a statement said, “What both parties are looking for is a practical and mutually acceptable solution to the current situation. The next step is for this matter to be considered further by the ICC Board to find a way forward. The ICC will make no further comment at this time.” he added.