Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore: Up to WADA to dope test Indian cricket

Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore yesterday said BCCI could have ensured dope testing of the Indian cricketers by NADA but put the onus on WADA to make the Indian Board compliant of its Code. Rathore made the comments when he was asked about the BCCI's strong response that National Anti-Doping Agency has no jurisdiction to conduct dopes tests on Indian cricketers.

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

"I am glad that cricket is getting dope control done through an outside agency. But when the entire sports bodies of the country and also of some other countries are trusting our National Anti-Doping Agency, the cricketers can also do that," Rathore said. "However, we leave it to the World Anti-Doping Agency, it is their prerogative. As the ICC is registered under the WADA, they have to abide by the doping standards. So, it is up to the WADA to ensure that they can dope test the cricketers,"he told reporters on the sidelines of the Delhi Half Marathon.

The minister said the question of the dope-testing of Indian cricketers can be sorted out."We don't have any issues with that (issue) specifically, we have many more sports to take care of and we are proud of all the sports," he said.