NADA slams BCCI for 'non-cooperation'

New Delhi:

The National Anti-Doping Agency on Wednesday lashed out at the BCCI for its "non-cooperation" and asked the Cricket Board to make sure that their players fall in line with the WADA code.

NADA Director General Rahul Bhatnagar said it was baffling to see BCCI rope in a Swedish company to conduct dope tests for cricketers while the national anti-doping body could have done the same job at a lesser cost or even for free.

"The BCCI never sought the assistance of NADA to conduct dope tests. They have engaged a company -- International Doping and Test Management (Sweden) -- at a heavy cost to conduct dope samples, which NADA could have done at much lesser cost or free of cost," Bhatnagar said.

"It is surprising why BCCI is maintaining such a no-cooperation attitude with NADA," he added.

NADA is the national agency for conducting dope tests, collecting samples and results management of athletes and Bhatnagar said the body wants the cricketers to fully comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) codes, along with the 'whereabouts clause' against which the cricketers are up in arms.

"NADA is strongly of the view that Cricketers must fully comply with all Anti Doping Regulations of WADA and NADA as all other sportspersons do. They are no exception and the rules apply to them equally. BCCI should ensure such compliance," he said.

Even though the International Cricket Council (ICC) is a signatory to the WADA Code, BCCI is spearheading an opposition to the vexed "whereabouts clause" which requires a player to inform, three months in advance, their availability for dope tests.

WADA has already issued an ultimatum to the ICC saying they have to ensure that BCCI accepts the WADA Code in totality, failing which the world cricket governing body would be branded non-compliant.