Wa da ya da now?
It's out in the open now. The BCCI is backing the Indian players, who have expressed their reservations about being party to the WADA anti doping measures. The reservations chiefly stemming from their privacy and security concerns, which, they felt would be compromised by the whereabouts rule.
Are the Indian players the only ones talking about their privacy and fundamental personal rights? One decided to take a look.
FIFA and UEFA have rejected the 'whereabouts' rule in March 2009. Many atheletes and sports bodies have been criticising the rule as a breach of their fundamental personal right . A key European Panel has opined that the rule contravenes privacy laws.
So there has been enough noise raised against the 'whereabouts' rule across the sporting world. Why the ICC (which includes the BCCI) chose to accept the WADA code of conduct in toto is the moot question. Were the players even asked their opinions/ reservations about the rule then? Why did the players (one is including players of all nationalities) not raise a stink on their own?
Another issue that naturally arises is why did the BCCI/ Indian players wait till the last minute to convey their decision to the ICC? Was MSD not available a week back for a meeting? What it has done is create a dead lock where the ICC has to act against the BCCI to show the strength of it's anti-doping credentials.
Tim May, the former Australian off-spinner, said FICA and its players have reluctantly accepted the WADA code. He further (rightly so, one thinks) said 'If the whereabouts provisions do not apply to all players from all countries then it should not be applied at all." But what was FICA doing till now. It sounds more like a war of 2 trade unions where the stronger one makes higher demands which makes the weaker one want to be treated at par and reiterate the demand as it's own. FICA's argument is perfectly fine, the timing seems a bit off.
It seems like another botch up the ICC and the BCCI. Taking matters to the brink and then just holding back seems to be the current decision making/ negotiation policy of both parties. One day it may prove too deadly for cricket.
As sporting icons of millions of Indian fans, one would believe that senior Indian cricketers should take the responsibility of leading the way in the fight against doping offences. It would start a proud tradition of clean sports that the country so badly needs, especially after so many doping accusations in weight lifting and other olympic sports. One may agree with all their concerns about privacy and cricket being a different game. A great opportunity to lead the country against doping was presented. But for now privacy seems to have been given the priority. The end game has begun.
Wa da ya da now?