Abhinav Bindra shoots down cricketers' concern about WADA code

2 August 2009. Indian cricketers have strong reservation about the 'wherabouts' clause of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), but Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, who is part of WADA's testing pool, says 'it's no big deal.'

Bindra said lack of knowledge among the cricketers about the procedure might have led to so much of fuss on the issue.

'It's no big deal. I have been part of WADA watchdog for the last three years and I had no difficulty. Every athlete has the responsibility to see that sport remains dope free,' said the gold medallist in men's 10m air rifle in Beijing Olympics.

Olympic Gold Medallist- Abhinav Bindra

'I don't think BCCI has a chance or a choice. They will have to sign the WADA code,' said the country's first individual gold medallist.

Bindra dismissed the concerns of the cricketers related to security and their privacy.

'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,' Bindra said.

The clause makes it mandatory for every athlete to furnish details of their whereabouts in advance and has come in for criticism from several quarters worldwide.

The 'whereabouts clause', as it is known, requires players to give information about their location three months in advance for one hour every day for five days a week for out of competition tests. In case of a change of plan, the players can update WADA officials about it through e-mail or sms.

'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.

Meanwhile, shooter Gagan Narang also felt that the present system is much better, since information on an athlete`s whereabouts can be easily updated via SMS or e-mail. "Once you get the hang of it, it is not very difficult to update your whereabouts," Narang said.