What others say

After nine months of playing, we come home for just 10 days. We don’t want somebody to intrude our privacy for dope tests during that small period. We have put out our points in front of the BCCI and they will speak to the ICC.

— Yuvraj Singh, Indian batsman.

If I’m in the boots of Yuvraj Singh or (M.S.) Dhoni I would certainly not like to be disturbed when I’m on a holiday. Like every individual, the cricketers too need to have their privacy respected.

— Sandeep Patil, former India batsman.

It seems both have valid arguments to support their respective views. It is advisable for the anti-doping authorities to talk to the cricketers and remove whatever apprehensions they are having. They need to be convinced it’s for the betterment of the game.

— Chandu Borde, former India all-rounder.

We (boxers) had signed the clause some 6-7 years ago. Abhi tak WADA se koi panga nahi hua hain (Till now we have not faced any problems from WADA). Cricketers know best about their worries, but I have not lost my freedom till now.

— Vijender Singh, bronze medal-winning boxer, Beijing Olympics.

It’s not practical at all. I would like to have my privacy. If WADA would like to test athletes then they should give a day’s advance notice because honestly, I don’t really know my schedule for the next day normally, so how can I inform someone else about it?

— Somdev Devvarman, India’s emerging tennis star.

We think that the Indian players have genuine security concerns regarding whereabout filing under the code and ICC needs to deal with these. However all other players, including South African players, are currently complying with the whereabouts provisions. If the BCCI continues to reject the whereabouts provisions then we would expect ICC not to enforce these against players from other countries.

— Tony Irish, CEO, South African Cricketers’ Association.

Why are cricketers worrying so much? The worries of cricketers about infringement of privacy and possible security threat are not justified. I am also a signatory to WADA’s clauses and strictly adhere to its rules and regulations.

— Sushil Kumar, bronze medal-winning wrestler, Beijing Olympics.

Security threat is for every sportsperson and cricketers are no exception. Why are they worrying so much? There cannot be different rules for sports bodies all over the world on one hand and for Indian cricketers on the other.

— G.S. Mander, Wrestling Federation of India President.

I have been doing the ‘whereabouts’ this entire year. I think if the system allows for those who abuse it to be caught we should go with it. Lots of the tennis players had apprehensions early but we are all doing it.

— Mahesh Bhupathi, India’s tennis ace.

It would not be fair to all the other sports and sportsmen of the world to make exceptions to WADA’s rules and I’m sure any doubts that the cricketers have can be sorted out amicably through consensus before they sign on the dotted line.

— Sania Mirza, India’s first women’s player to win a Grand Slam title.

All sportspersons should adhere to it and happily follow it, as so many sports federations and players are following it. We have accepted WADA regulatory testing and we adhere to it. Sportspersons should be clear on one thing, that it is not getting into someone’s life.

— M.S. Gill, India’s Sports Minister.