The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has issued notices to Indian cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma -- all five part of the 110-strong National Registered Testing Pool -- for non-disclosure of their whereabouts. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) claims it was due to a 'password glitch'.
Even while the nation was under lockdown, it was mandatory to submit details of three months' whereabouts, with failure to comply punishable by up to two years' suspension.
Speaking to PTI about the matter, NADA General Director Navin Agarwal explained how it was also upon the federations or boards to submit the information and it was not just the players' responsibility alone.
"There are two ways to fill up the whereabouts form in the ADAMS (Anti-Doping Administration & Management Systems) software. Either athlete does it himself or association fills it up on his or her behalf."
Agarwal pointed how athletes in some discipline 'aren't educated enough' or do not have access to the internet and find themselves unable to handle the whereabouts clause of the ADAMS or upload the filled up form and turn to the assistance of their concerned federations, and that the same goes for cricket players.
"Similarly in cricket also, although these people are well qualified and they can do it, perhaps they don't have the time for whatever reasons, so the federation concerned, the BCCI has taken upon itself the responsibility of uploading their whereabouts."
The BCCI, in their defence, cited a password glitch in ADAMS that's now been resolved but a decision will still be taken, according to Agarwal.
"They have said that there has been a glitch with regards to password in ADAMS. Now they have said that issue has been resolved."
"The BCCI's explanation will be discussed as to whether it will be counted as one of three filing failures or not. It will be decided on the explanation given and how they (BCCI) proceed from here," clarified Agarwal.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Punit Paranjpe
