BCCI backs players on anti-doping

The BCCI has backed its players and asked the ICC to renegotiate the 'whereabouts' clause in the anti-doping code with the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) after a meeting in Mumbai on Sunday. MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh, who were present at the meeting of ICC and BCCI officials, maintained that security concerns remained if they had to reveal their location for three months, as mandated by the contentious 'whereabouts' norm in the amended anti-doping code.

The Indian board called the clause, which requires players in the testing pool to submit in advance details of their location for a period of three months, "unreasonable" and a "violation of privacy". Shashank Manohar, the BCCI president, said the board did not have a problem with dope testing but the system of keeping checks. "The issue is out-of-competition testing," Manohar said. "Our players are ready to be tested but they say they are not in a position to give their whereabouts. We back the players on this.

"We believe the clause with regard to whereabouts of cricketers is unreasonable for three reasons. Firstly, some Indian cricketers have security cover, and when you have a security cover, you cannot dislose whereabouts to a third person. Secondly, the privacy of individuals cannot be invaded. Third, the constitution of India gives a guarantee to every citizen regarding his privacy which cannot be invaded. We can appreciate players being tested even when they are not playing. But if ICC or WADA wants to test the players, they can inform the board which will get the players at the required location within two days. This is our suggestion."

Manohar said he did not know what the ICC would do next. "The implications of this decision would be decided after we write to the ICC. Today, it would be jumping the gun."

Brian Murgatroyd, the ICC spokesperson, said the ICC and BCCI were committed to finding a practical solution. We are aware of the issues of concerns, and we are confident they can be adhered to everyone's satisfaction. The matter will now be considered by ICC board."

The 11 Indian players in the ICC's international testing pool, and other international players, are not against the concept of anti-dope testing and are in agreement with the larger aim of the WADA code, which is to ensure a clean sport. However, they are concerned about the 'wherabouts' clause in the amended code, which requires all players in the pool to submit details even during off-season, to facilitate effective out-of-competition testing. Only Indian players have missed the July 31 deadline to submit the first information forms. All other international players in the testing pool from other countries have done so.

The Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) warned that if the ICC did not penalise India's players for failing to submit to the new anti-doping norms in time, it would ensure that players from all other countries would be relieved from similar obligations.