BCCI officially becomes National Sports Federation after coming under NADA ambit

After years of defiance, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally come under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). This is a massive development when it comes to doping and sports administration in the country. The BCCI has now become a National Sports Federation in the process despite being financially autonomous. Sports Secretary Radheshyam Jhulaniya, who along with NADA DG Navin Agarwal met BCCI CEO Rahul Johri along with the Board's GM (Cricket Operations) Saba Karim here on Friday, said that the Board has given in writing that it would adhere to the anti-doping policy of NADA.

The BCCI was vehemently opposed to signing up with NADA, claiming that it is an autonomous body, not a National Sports Federation as it does not rely on government funding. BCCI's primary concern was the contentious 'Whereabouts Clause' with regards to Out of Competition Testing, something that all star India players have been wary of as they considered it an invasion of their privacy.

However, Sports secretary Radheshyam Jhulaniya said, "All cricketers will now be tested by NADA. 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. But that higher facility will be equal for all NSFs. BCCI is no different from others. They have to follow the law of the land," Jhulaniya said.

After the meeting, Johri said they had to follow the law of the land. "We have raised a lot of concerns, we have listed them out and they have agreed to address all these. Whoever is in existence the law of the land is there. So, you and I can't choose at what time to follow the law of the land," Johri said.

With the BCCI officially coming under the NADA ambit, the possibility of agreeing to RTI is becoming more and more real. The Indian Board will now face more pressure to come under RTI Act as per government norms. However, Johri side-stepped the issue, saying RTI was not in the meeting and it will be discussed at a later meeting.

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HIGHLIGHTS

• BCCI had raised concerns about whereabouts clause.
• BCCI has finally come under NADA.
• All cricketers will now be tested by NADA.