BCCI shows the way with anti-doping initiatives | Cricket - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

BCCI shows the way with anti-doping initiatives

Hindustan Times | ByAmol Karhadkar, Mumbai
Jul 10, 2011 11:38 PM IST

Whether it is the media, Olympians or other sports administrators, everyone loves to have a go at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Whether it is the media, Olympians or other sports administrators, everyone loves to have a go at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

HT Image
HT Image

Though justified in many cases, those who criticise the BCCI, ignore the fact that it is one of the better structured bodies in the country. As a result, when sports minister, Ajay Maken, took on the BCCI for not coming under the National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA) umbrella, he was either ignorant or forgot that the BCCI more serious than the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in implementing anti-doping measures.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Even before the International Cricket Council (ICC) complied with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) last year, the BCCI had started its mission to educate budding cricketers on anti-doping measures.

As a major fillip to their anti-doping wing, the BCCI, last year, hired Dr Vece Paes, a former Olympian and sports medicine expert, to chalk out and implement the educational programme. The Board conducted separate two-day workshops for junior and senior cricketers in each of their affiliated associations last year and will repeat the exercise this year. Anti-doping centres have been set up at each of the zonal academies and National Cricket Academy.

"The BCCI is committed to clean sport. We have signed the WADA code. While at the international level, where cricketers are subject to testing, there hasn't been a single positive case of an India cricketer. At the domestic level, our emphasis is on creating awareness among young cricketers," said Ratnakar Shetty, BCCI's chief administrative officer.

The BCCI has circulated a pocket handbook that details the dos and don'ts on anti-doping measures. Moreover, it has made Dr Paes and his colleagues available for all cricketers 24x7 through a helpline. "In a country like ours where hardly any sportsperson at the grass-root level is educated about these issues, the association has to play a pivotal role in informing them," said Shetty. "So, before we start testing our domestic cricketers, our emphasis is to educate them. If a youngster is prescribed medication for some injury, he can consult the experts through the helpline."

Even international cricketers, whenever they have doubts about food supplements or medication, get support through two independent testing agencies hired by the BCCI - the International Drug Testing Management from Sweden and Sports Drug Testing International from Australia.

At a time when the doping syndrome has recurred in India, it's time the other sports federations take a cue from the BCCI.

Stay updated with the latest Cricket News, IPL Live Scores, and exclusive insights on the RR vs DC Live Score, IPL 2024 Schedule, match highlights, and more. Explore comprehensive Cricket Schedule, track the race for the Purple Cap and Orange Cap in IPL 2024, and stay ahead with all the cricket-related updates on the Hindustan Times Website and Apps.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On