Indian Government reiterates commitment to WADA Code

New Delhi: The Indian Government is committed to the global anti-doping laws and fully accepts the new WADA Code, including the contentious “whereabouts” clause which has been rejected by the country’s Cricket Board.

Reacting to WADA chief John Fahey’s remarks that he had asked the Indian government’s stand on the BCCI’s rejection of the “whereabouts” clause, Sports Ministry today said there was no change in its earlier stand of full commitment to anti-doping rules. “The Government and National Anti-Doping Agency stand fully committed to WADA Code including the provisions related to International Standards of Testing and ‘whereabouts’ clause. We have informed WADA that there is no change in the position of Government of India in so far as implementation of anti-doping rules adopted by NADA,” Rahul Bhatnagar, joint secretary in the Sports Ministry and Director General of NADA said.“India’s stand now and before has been the same. There is no compromise when it comes to doping in sport,” he said. Bhatnagar said the Indian Cricket Board has not responded to the ministry’s communication regarding the advice it sought about the “whereabouts” clause. “In respect to the issue raised by BCCI regarding ‘whereabouts’ clause we have repeatedly been asking BCCI about the advice they have sought in this matter. But we have not got any response either from BCCI nor from elsewhere as to what exactly was that opinion,” he said.Bhatnagar said the ministry will do whatever is required to get rid of doping in sports. “NADA has fully accepted WADA Code which has been approved by the Government of India. The ‘whereabouts’ clause of WADA has also been accepted by NADA and and Government of India. As far as anti-doping in sport is concerned, Government of India and NADA will take all possible means to eradicate the menace from sports and we are ready to take the lead in this regard among other nations in the world.” The Indian cricketers have rejected the whereabouts clause of the WADA code which requires athletes to give details of their location three months in advance for out of competition testing. Cricketers say the clause infringes on their privacy and puts their security at risk. Bureau Report