Cricket: Drug testing row goes global as BCCI refuses to back down

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(Photo Courtesy: Livemint)

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has reportedly warned the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it would intervene if the ongoing conflicts between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and country’s national doping agency (NADA) aren’t resolved.

The two bodies are in a tussle over BCCI’s refusal to allow the doping agency to conduct a drug test on cricketers. According to reports, a WADA spokesperson has confirmed that the body sent a letter to ICC in July to solve the matter.

If in case the ongoing row between both the bodies fails to reach to the expected agreements, it would be referred to WADA’s Compliance Review Committee, which would raise the possibility of the ICC being deemed as non-compliant by the global anti-doping body.

“Pursuant to the World Anti-Doping Code, the Indian National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has testing authority over athletes who are nationals, residents, license holders or members of sport organizations in India or who are present in India. However the Indian NADA has not been allowed by the BCCI to conduct testing on athletes from the sport of cricket,” WADA official was quoted as saying by the news agency.

ICC has also recently warned that any suspensions that arise from this dispute may hamper their chances of including the sport in 2028 Olympics.

ICC Chief Dave Richardson was quoted as saying by newspaper Times of India earlier this week: “We are trying to help the BCCI sort out the issue with WADA and NADA. We think cricket should be in the 2028 Olympics, but it’s not going to happen unless we are a unified sport.”

“At this stage, we need to convince the BCCI that it is a good thing for cricket to be in the Olympics from all aspects,” he further said.

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