Pujara, Jadeja among five players to get NADA notice
Five centrally contracted Indian cricketers including Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul have been issued notices by National Anti-doping Agency (NADA) for failing to disclose their whereabouts as the BCCI cited “password glitch” as the reason for delay.
The other players to have received the notice include women stars Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma.
Speaking to PTI, NADA DG Navin Agarwal said, “Athletes in some discipline aren’t educated enough or do not have access to internet and find themselves unable to handle the whereabouts clause of the ADAMS or upload the filled up form. They use assistance of their concerned federations. So federations have accepted responsibility of uploading their whereabouts.”
“Similarly in cricket also, although these people are well qualified and they can do it, perhaps they don’t have the time for whatever reasons, so the federation concerned, the BCCI has taken upon itself the responsibility of uploading their whereabouts. They have given an explanation which appears to be reasonable but a decision will be taken. They have said that there has been a glitch with regards to password in ADAMS. Now they have said that issue has been resolved,” Agarwal added.
AFRIDI TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS
Pakistan’s much-loved former cricket captain Shahid Afrid said on Saturday he had tested positive for coronavirus, as the pandemic accelerates across the country.
The 40-year-old former allrounder revealed his illness on Twitter. “I’ve been feeling unwell since Thursday; my body had been aching badly. I’ve been tested and unfortunately I’m covid positive. Need prayers for a speedy recovery, Inshallah (God willing),” added Afridi.
ITALIAN FOOTBALL BACK, JUVE IN FINAL
finally resumed in Italy in a surreal atmosphere as Juventus drew with 10-man AC Milan 0-0 on Friday to reach the
Italian Cup final on the away goals rule.
The first leg finished 1-1 in Milan before the coronavirus forced the season to be suspended on March 9. Napoli hosts Inter Milan in the other semi-final second leg on Saturday. The final will be on Wednesday in Rome.
HAZARD, ASENSIO BACK FOR EIBAR CLASH
Real Madrid’s jointrecord signing Eden Hazard and Spain international Marco Asensio are both fit for the team’s first La Liga match in over three months against visitors Eibar on Sunday, coach Zinedine Zidane has said. Hazard injured his ankle for the second time this season in February and was expected to miss the rest of the campaign after surgery but the competition being halted by the Covid-19 pandemic gave him extra time to recover. Asensio meanwhile had missed the entire campaign since rupturing knee ligaments in pre-season.
DJOKOVIC DEFENDS PACKED STANDS
There was no social distancing and few among the thousands of fans wore face masks— and Novak Djokovic approved.
The fans filled the makeshift stands on Friday at Djokovic’s Belgrade tennis club on the banks of the Danube River for the opening day of his charity tennis tour organised by him and his family.
“We have different circumstances and measures so it’s very difficult to think of international standards. You can also criticise us and say this is maybe dangerous but it’s not up to me to make the calls about what is right or wrong for health,” Djokovic said.