The International Cricket Council understands the importance of World Anti-Doping Agency’s “whereabouts clause” and it is their duty to address BCCI’s concerns, WADA Director General David Howman said here on Monday.
In the city to attend the seventh Asia/Oceanic Region Intergovernmental meeting on anti-doping in sports, Mr. Howman said he had a discussion with the ICC officials during the recent Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies on the contentious clause and WADA would meet them again to sort out the issue.
“Last weekend during the T20 World Cup, I discussed the issue with ICC officials in Barbados and made them understand the importance of the clause. The discussion was very good and I listened into their concerns,” Mr. Howman said.
“ICC has made a good progress on the issue. We have made a good progress on the issue. We know some people are scared (about the clause). But one needs to understand that it’s the international federation (ICC) who ultimately has to look into and address the concerns of the national federations (BCCI and others),” he said.
The controversial clause requires the cricketers in the common testing pool to furnish details of their whereabouts three months in advance to the anti-doping authorities.
Indian players had rejected the clause, saying it’s a violation of their fundamental right to privacy and poses a security threat as well and the BCCI had supported their stand.
The ICC had last October decided to “suspend” the clause until the concerns of the Indian players were sorted out.
Mr. Howman said ‘whereabout’ is relatively a new term for the cricketing world and WADA, in its given capacity, will try and bring more light on this issue.
“World over, international and national federations are in total compliance with the clause. 13,000 athletes are part of this clause. We have, time to time, reviewed this clause and will continue to do so. There is no need to fear.
“Cricket is new to this term and we will bring more light on this issue,” Mr. Howman added.
