The BCCI does not face any threat to its autonomy even though the Union Sports Ministry has adopted an unprecedented tough stand on the issue of dope testing of cricketers.
“Where is the issue of losing face or panicking,” asks a veteran Board official on the development.
“When did we say we wouldn’t comply. We had raised some issues and once they stood addressed we had no reason not to comply. If the NADA takes care of all the issues it is fine with the BCCI,” he said.
A Sports Ministry official insisted the Board had little option but to fall in line.
READ: NADA will test cricketers whenever and wherever they want
“Please understand that the BCCI was always considered a deemed sports federation. It was selecting the India team and not BCCI team. The Sports Ministry was not picking the team. In the process it was performing a State-like function.
“Whatever was applicable to any sports federation would have been applicable for the BCCI. It was an international obligation as far as India was concerned. BCCI had to fall in line,” he said.
On the question of BCCI retaining its autonomy, the Ministry official clarified, “Where is the threat to its autonomy. India is bound by international commitment to promote clean sports, good governance and here BCCI is in the same position as other federations.
READ: BCCI sidesteps RTI queries after agreeing to come under NADA
“The sports federations follow a well-laid-out process and BCCI is no different. The Ministry respects the autonomy of all sports federations and there won’t be any exception in the case of BCCI,” the Ministry official said.
The Board official admitted, “This time the Ministry push was visible. They must have thought ‘enough is enough’ once it had agreed to resolve the issues raised by the BCCI.
“Honestly, BCCI could have offered no excuses this time to avoid coming under the NADA ambit. But as far as BCCI falling under RTI is concerned, the matter is still sub-judice.”
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