BCCI comes under NADA - All need to know
After years of resistance, BCCI finally agreed to come under the ambit of NADA on Friday. BCCI CEO Rahul Johri confirmed that the apex body of Indian cricket is committed to following the laws of the land.
The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has relented in its long standoff with the government over control of the dope-testing regime of its cricketers and agreed to come under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). The move comes after cricketer Prithvi Shaw's recent failed dope test raised questions on the competence of BCCI's anti-doping procedures.
It is a significant policy change for a sports body that does not identify itself as a national sports federation (NSF), is not dependent on government funding and has for years been steadfastly opposed to any sort of government interference in its functioning. The decision comes in the wake of BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and general manager (cricket operations) Saba Karim's meeting with sports secretary Radheshyam Julaniya and NADA director general Navin Agarwal in New Delhi on Friday.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is itself a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code and had been keen to see this ongoing conflict between the BCCI and NADA being resolved. "BCCI does not have discretion to say no. All are same, everyone has to follow the same rules," the Sports Secretary said on Friday. Jhulaniya revealed that the board had given it to them in writing that they would follow the anti-doping norms issues by NADA.
"All cricketers will now be tested by NADA," Jhulaniya told PTI. “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. BCCI is no different from others.”
BCCI not a National Sports Federation
The BCCI had in the past argued that it is not a National Sports Federation (NSF) which is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India. The BCCI has been an autonomous body which does not receive funding or grants from the sports ministry of the country.
The BCCI had argued it need not be covered by National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADO) protocols since its not an NSF.
Whereabouts clause
The 'whereabouts clause" has been a big roadblock as well as star India cricketers had vehemently opposed sharing their whereabouts details with the NADO. Concerns around breach of privacy were raised by India cricketers who were unwilling to share their location during off-season for the sample collectors to do their job.
The 'Whereabouts Clause' requires every cricketer to inform the ICC or the NADO about his/her location in 3 specific dates in a year wherein they would be available for out-of-competition testing -- as in for NADA's Dope Control Officer (DCO) for sample collection.
According to WADA, this is why whereabout clause is important for clean sport.
WILL THE WHEREABOUTS CLAUSE STAND?
Yes. All cricketers on the domestic scene will have to share their whereabout details with NADA. For ICC events and bilateral series, cricketers are not obliged to share such details until ICC appoints NADA as the testing agency.
WHAT NEXT FOR BCCI?
It will have to incorporate the doping clause in its constitution, giving authority to NADA to test cricketers. The IPL constitution also needs to be amended accordingly.
IS BCCI NOW A NATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATION?
No. It only means the BCCI has become compliant to the WADA's 2015 Code. Whether this move will weaken the BCCI's resistance to being labelled as a NSF is open to speculation.
IS BCCI NOW UNDER RTI ACT?
Again, no. That will only happen if BCCI becomes a NSF.
DID BOTCHED PRITHVI SHAW DOPE CASE HASTEN COMPLIANCE?
Many within BCCI feel so. Shaw was retrospectively banned for eight months after testing positive for terbutaline but more importantly, was allowed to play in the IPL when he clearly should not have been. The BCCI's handling of the case did raise a stink.
BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, on Friday, reportedly met the sports ministry officials, although the meeting's prime focus was to get clearance for the South Africa A and women's teams' tours of India, having not got the clearance for the visiting players' visas.
Extravasation injury during blood tests
Before the ICC introduced blood tests in 2017, certain players were also against blood testing as well, according to The Hindu. Extravasation injury was cited by players who were unwilling to give blood samples. Extravasation injury is defined as the damage caused by the efflux of solutions from a vessel into surrounding tissue spaces during intravenous infusion. The damage can extend to involve nerves, tendons, and joints and can continue for months after the initial insult.
The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has relented in its long standoff with the government over control of the dope-testing regime of its cricketers and agreed to come under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). The move comes after cricketer Prithvi Shaw's recent failed dope test raised questions on the competence of BCCI's anti-doping procedures.
It is a significant policy change for a sports body that does not identify itself as a national sports federation (NSF), is not dependent on government funding and has for years been steadfastly opposed to any sort of government interference in its functioning. The decision comes in the wake of BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and general manager (cricket operations) Saba Karim's meeting with sports secretary Radheshyam Julaniya and NADA director general Navin Agarwal in New Delhi on Friday.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is itself a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code and had been keen to see this ongoing conflict between the BCCI and NADA being resolved. "BCCI does not have discretion to say no. All are same, everyone has to follow the same rules," the Sports Secretary said on Friday. Jhulaniya revealed that the board had given it to them in writing that they would follow the anti-doping norms issues by NADA.
"All cricketers will now be tested by NADA," Jhulaniya told PTI. “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. BCCI is no different from others.”
BCCI not a National Sports Federation
The BCCI had in the past argued that it is not a National Sports Federation (NSF) which is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India. The BCCI has been an autonomous body which does not receive funding or grants from the sports ministry of the country.
The BCCI had argued it need not be covered by National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADO) protocols since its not an NSF.
Whereabouts clause
The 'whereabouts clause" has been a big roadblock as well as star India cricketers had vehemently opposed sharing their whereabouts details with the NADO. Concerns around breach of privacy were raised by India cricketers who were unwilling to share their location during off-season for the sample collectors to do their job.
The 'Whereabouts Clause' requires every cricketer to inform the ICC or the NADO about his/her location in 3 specific dates in a year wherein they would be available for out-of-competition testing -- as in for NADA's Dope Control Officer (DCO) for sample collection.
According to WADA, this is why whereabout clause is important for clean sport.
WILL THE WHEREABOUTS CLAUSE STAND?
Yes. All cricketers on the domestic scene will have to share their whereabout details with NADA. For ICC events and bilateral series, cricketers are not obliged to share such details until ICC appoints NADA as the testing agency.
WHAT NEXT FOR BCCI?
It will have to incorporate the doping clause in its constitution, giving authority to NADA to test cricketers. The IPL constitution also needs to be amended accordingly.
IS BCCI NOW A NATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATION?
No. It only means the BCCI has become compliant to the WADA's 2015 Code. Whether this move will weaken the BCCI's resistance to being labelled as a NSF is open to speculation.
IS BCCI NOW UNDER RTI ACT?
Again, no. That will only happen if BCCI becomes a NSF.
DID BOTCHED PRITHVI SHAW DOPE CASE HASTEN COMPLIANCE?
Many within BCCI feel so. Shaw was retrospectively banned for eight months after testing positive for terbutaline but more importantly, was allowed to play in the IPL when he clearly should not have been. The BCCI's handling of the case did raise a stink.
BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, on Friday, reportedly met the sports ministry officials, although the meeting's prime focus was to get clearance for the South Africa A and women's teams' tours of India, having not got the clearance for the visiting players' visas.
Extravasation injury during blood tests
Before the ICC introduced blood tests in 2017, certain players were also against blood testing as well, according to The Hindu. Extravasation injury was cited by players who were unwilling to give blood samples. Extravasation injury is defined as the damage caused by the efflux of solutions from a vessel into surrounding tissue spaces during intravenous infusion. The damage can extend to involve nerves, tendons, and joints and can continue for months after the initial insult.
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