Click to play videoNew Delhi: India's only Olympic gold medallist in an individual sport Abhinav Bindra has come out in support of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) anti-doping code saying Indian cricketers are wrong in rejecting the 'Whereabouts Clause' of the code.
Bindra, who won the gold at Men's 10m Air Rifle in Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, said there should be no issue at all for India's cricketers to sign the anti-doping code.
Speaking to CNN-IBN Bindra said that it's a sense of responsibility that every sportsperson carried and it was mandatory to sign the code, especially if cricket wanted to go global and be a part of the Olympic programme.
"I have been a part of the WADA for at least three years. Every athlete has a responsibility to eradicate doping. I have never had a problem with it," said Bindra.
He also said that it seemed that lack of knowledge of the entire process and procedures of the anti-doping code led to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the players objecting to certain clauses.
"There is no big deal in the 'Whereabouts Clause'. I don't think BCCI has a chance or a choice. They will have to sign the WADA code," said the Olympic champion.
I think it's a lack of knowledge. I don't blame them. I do not understand the security issue. It is not that the WADA will knock at your door while you are drinking," Binda said about the clause that makes it mandatory for cricketers to be available for out of competition testing.
"I think WADA is a very valid clause. I don't see anyone having a problem with it. The information about cricketers will not be made public. It will be kept confidential. It is not that everyone will know about cricketer's whereabouts," he said rejecting the players' view that their security and privacy would be compromised by the 'Whereabouts Clause'.
The 'Whereabouts Clause' requires players to give information about their location three months for one hour every day in advance (between 0600 hrs IST and 2300 hrs IST) for out of competition tests.
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