NADA plans to test cricketers for doping in domestic circuit

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 18

The Indian cricketers would find it difficult to evade drug-testing by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) from the 2017-18 domestic season. In what could be termed as a bold and ambitious move, NADA is gearing up to conduct random in-competition testing of cricketers from the next domestic season. The testing would be conducted in the Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, Vijay Hazare Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy and other domestic tournaments.

NADA wouldn’t get into out-of-competition testing — the Indian cricket board (BCCI) had raised an objection to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) ‘whereabouts clause’ for out-of-competition testing. The cricketers, too, weren’t comfortable sharing their whereabouts when not playing due to privacy and security issues. 

BCCI no fan of WADA

The International Cricket Council (ICC) became a WADA signatory in 2006, but BCCI and the Indian cricketers have continued to object coming under the WADA purview. Back in 2013, BCCI had vowed to conduct regular testing in domestic cricket. The board had hired an international firm — International Dope Tests and Management (IDTM) —  for the purpose, and urine samples were collected during one of the Vijay Hazare Trophy games that year. However, there’s apparently no plan or pattern behind BCCI’s effort on this front. 

NADA hopeful

Things, however, are likely to change with NADA planning to step in. “We would soon talk to COA and BCCI CEO Rahul Johri in this regard. We are sure of a positive outcome,” confirmed NADA Director General Navin Agarwal. “ICC has been WADA compliant since 2006, and it’s the world governing body for cricket. So, I don’t see any problem in testing Indian cricketers. They (cricketers) are objecting about out-of-competition testing, which NADA won’t do.” 

“BCCI has engaged some company for the collection of samples, but NADA is the sole authority in India for dope testing. We hope to start testing from the coming domestic season.” 

But until BCCI agrees and become a NADA signatory, NADA’s plan is unlikely to become a reality. “This (dope testing) is what we intend to do. Let’s first put the process in place,” Agarwal said.

Agarwal said BCCI can’t play ‘we are a private body’ card to escape testing. “BCCI is a public body. It uses India’s name and represents the country in global events. We can always write to ICC to direct them to allow us to conduct in-competition testing under the WADA code.”