NADA chief warns BCCI for not letting it test in domestic events
New Delhi The National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) chief, Navin Agarwal, said on Sunday the cricket board’s refusal to let the body test players in domestic tournaments leaves scope for manipulation.
The national anti-doping agency insists it should be conducting tests in domestic tournaments while the board, which has hired a private agency for the job, says it is answerable only to the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) and International Cricket Council (ICC).
Agarwal told HT: ‘’There is need to be more transparent. Since the national team is selected on the basis of domestic performances there should be thorough testing done at this level, and that too at the right time.’’NADA doesn’t want to interfere with the BCCI’s antidoping protocol but “will take appropriate measures” if the cricket body does not fall in line, Agarwal said.
‘’It’s good (BCCI’s anti-doping methods), we don’t deny that. They have hired a private agency for the job. But we believe there is scope for manipulation and some of the top cricketers might not be tested.”
Cricket in regarded as ‘lowrisk’ for doping. An official associated with BCCI’s anti-doping programme says cricketers are regularly tested at Ranji Trophy matches and other important domestic tournaments. Urine samples are tested at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) in New Delhi.
The board has hired Sweden’s International Drug Testing Management (IDTM) for testing work.
According to reports, BCCI GM Ratnakar Shetty doesn’t see any need for NADA to be involved.
‘’We’re doing everything WADA wants, we are affiliated to ICC and follow its instructions,’’ Shetty has been quoted by a cricket website.
‘’If NADA wants to conduct a test at domestic level, it will have to come up with a plan and then we will respond,’’ Shetty said.