NEW DELHI: Grasping the handle provided by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s suspension of the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) with both hands, the BCCI is now expressing faux concern over India’s dope testing regimen.
This coming from a governing body whose doping control mechanisms till date have been built around the “convenience” of its superstar cricketers is laughable to put it mildly, but that is another matter altogether.
To cut to chase, the BCCI, which had to be dragged kicking and screaming to agree to come under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), has been quick on the ball in its response to the developments.
BCCI CEO Rahul Johri has written to the director general & chief executive officer of NADA, asking for clarity on the implications of WADA’s suspension of accreditation to NDTL for six months.
In the letter, accessed by IANS, Johri has written: “It has come to our attention through media reports that NDTL has been suspended by WADA for a period of six (6) months owing to “non-conformities with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) as identified during a WADA site visit”.
“We request you to kindly let us know how this suspension will affect samples collected by NADA at BCCI domestic cricket tournaments. Since NDTL is unable to test the samples of our cricketers, what is the way forward to ensure a strict chain of custody and timely analysis of all samples.”
The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) had on Friday told IANS that not only have they taken note of the turn of events with regards to WADA suspending NDTL in the capital for a period of six months, but also that the committee was looking at the options they have as NDTL can’t test samples anymore.
As per the suspension policy, NADA is still allowed to collect samples from sportspersons, but the tests can’t be done at NDTL and needs to be done at a WADA-accredited laboratory outside the country.
