Dealing with doping: On BCCI consent to come under WADA

Earlier, the BCCI had its in-house dope-tests but it only lent credence to the allegations about conflict of interest. The issue came to a boil when Prithvi Shaw was given a back-dated eight-month suspension after he tested positive for a banned drug, Terbutaline.
Recently BCCI accepted NADA’s supervision .Indian cricket’s governing body finally agreed to subject its players to NADA’s testing routines. Before its turn-around, the BCCI had resisted NADA’s intervention. The main objection pertained to the ‘where-abouts’ clause, which made it mandatory for a player to reveal where he would be on a daily basis. The need for privacy was offered as an excuse
With the BCCI belatedly allowing NADA to monitor its domestic cricketers, by extension the International Cricket Council too has finally come under the WADA’s unerring gaze
In India, WADA’s rules have been enforced by the Government-run National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and almost all sports federations had fallen in line

World anti-doping agency (WADA)

At international level, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has been established in 1999 at Lausanne, Switzerland under the “Declaration of Lausanne” to coordinate, promote and monitor the fight against drugs in sports. Its headquarters are located at Montreal, Canada. At national level, many countries have their own anti-doping agencies. In India, such agency is called NADA {National Anti-doping Agency}.
WADA is an NGO and its aim is to harmonize anti-doping regulations in all sports and countries. It is collective initiative led by the International Olympic committee.
Its mission is to lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport.
Its key activities include scientific research, education, development of anti-doping capacities, and monitoring of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code).
The World Anti-Doping Code is the document that brings consistency to anti-doping rules, regulations and policies worldwide

HOW DOES A SUBSTANCE OR METHOD MAKE IT TO THE PROHIBITED LIST?

The WADA Prohibited List may include any substance and methods that satisfy any two of the following three criteria:

National anti-doping agency (NADA)

It was set up as registered society under the Societies Registration Act of 1890 in 2005 aftermath of 2004 copenhagen declaration on doping in sports to which india is signatory.
It has a mandate for ensuring Dope free sports in India.
It is responsible for promoting, coordinating, and monitoring doping control program in sports in all its forms.
Comes under Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

WHAT does the decision means

India is governed by the rule of law and everyone is equal before law.
Till now, Sweden-based International Dope Testing Management (IDTM) had been collecting the cricketers’ samples and submitting to national dope testing laboratory.IDTM was outside agency hired by BCCI to take samples, now that agency will be NADA.
Board would have had to eventually come under NADA if it wanted its women team to play in commonwealth games in Birmingham 2022.
Now NADA can collect samples of all cricketers during domestic tournaments.
NADA can't collect samples on its own accord during bilateral series eg.India vs South africa unless instructed to do so by ICC.However if ICC allows NADA can take samples.

What happens to dopetesting in the IPL

NADA can collect samples of all domestic and international cricketers since it is BCCI's domestic event.

Is BCCI now a national sports federation

Concerns

Whereabouts clause-BCCI feels that clause is breach of privacy of top cricketers.The clause require athlete to fill declaration form mentioning where they will be for an hour everyday to NADA's dope control officer for sample collection in coming three months when they are not competing.If any athlete fails to be at specified place,it invited sanctions for breach of WADA code.Such a breach led to Andre russel being banned for a year.