NADA to start testing players during Duleep games, BCCI wants only doctors as DCOs

National Anti-Doping ncy (NA) will start testing players registered under Indian cricket board during next Duleep Trophy game in Bengaluru, having agreed to BCCI's demands for qualified medical practitioners as Le Dope Control Officers (LDCO).

NA explores options to better ties with BCCI

Recently, BCCI's GM (Cricket Operations) Saba Karim and he of anti-doping unit Dr Abhijit Salvi met senior NA officials, including Director General Naveen Agarwal, to discuss ro map after country's richest sporting body came under its ambit.

"We are looking forward towards commencing this partnership soon beginning from Duleep Trophy," NA h anunced after meeting.

While NA is t expected to test any players during ongoing opening game between India Blue and India Green teams in Bengaluru, re is a possibility of carrying out a few tests during next game which starts on August 23.

BCCI, on its part, handed full itinerary of domestic games for season, including dates and venues, so that NA can prepare its cricket testing calendar.

" Duleep Trophy has alrey started and probably y will be coming for later matches. y haven't specified wher y are planning target testing or random testing. It is expected re will be a few tests done on match days (in-competition)," Salvi told PTI.

BCCI's anti-doping officer cleared air about how exactly Board is going to "pay extra" (differential cost as said by CEO Rahul Johri) to ensure highest standards are maintained during tests that are carried out.

"Our primary concern was about quality of Dope Control Officers (DCOs) and time taken for disposal of cases. NA has assured us about both. What we have requested is that we would like DCOs assigned for BCCI tests to be registered medical practitioners (MBBS) with kwledge of anti-doping," Salvi said.

moment DCO is a doctor, re will be excess charges involved and BCCI will be paying that, which BCCI CEO has alrey clarified.

NA faces a stiff challenge

Asked wher it will be possible for NA to arrange for so many qualified doctors, considering number of matches that BCCI organises, Salvi h a solution. 

"When IDTM (International Doping Tests and Manment of Sweden) used to collect samples, y would assign medical practitioners. We suggested NA if y can empanel IDTM registered doctors," Salvi said.

A look at NA's website would suggest that qualification for DCOs is science gruates and remuneration paid is Rs 20,000 per month. DCOs are hired on a contractual basis.

Currently, re are 111 empanelled contractual persons under NA which includes Le Dope Control Officers (LDCOs), DCOs, Blood Collection Officers (BCOs) and Chaperones. In list of 111, re are only 16 registered doctors -- all designated as LDCOs. Out of those 16, re are 12 who are based out of Pune and four are residing in Thiruvananthapuram.

However, re are questions wher NA can always have qualified doctors as DCOs for all BCCI assignments.

"Why will qualified doctors be interested in urine sample collection of cricketers just because BCCI is rey to pay differential costs?" questioned an official, who is privy to NA functioning. "It's a simple thing. Do qualified doctors visit our homes to collect samples? So why will this be any different for BCCI?" official asked furr.

It is also learnt that BCCI won't mind if NA gives prior tice as some of its venues are open ones and y need to build a separate sanitised 'Dope Control Room'. For example, if random tests are carried out at a ground like JU (Salt Lake 2nd campus, in Kolkata), it has a county like a dressing room where re isn't any separate room.

BCCI carried out around 275 tests during last season when it h employed IDTM for sample collection but it is to be seen as to how many cricketers' tests NA carries out considering it is only 11 months left for Olympics in Tokyo. 

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