International Cricket Council has come out with its Anti-Doping Code to be effective from August 1 with modified "whereabouts" requirements after prolonged negotiations mainly due to BCCI's objection to the original clause stipulated by the WADA.
ICC said in a statement that it has concluded "whereabouts" rules to support out-of-competition testing with all the member cricket boards agreeing to them.
The rules establish a two-tier approach to whereabouts filing with players who would be tested falling under two main pools: the International Registered Testing Pool (IRTP) and the National Player Pool (NPP).
Players who are known offenders or who may be of higher risk will be in IRTP. Players in NPP, which will comprise 88 internationals (11 from each of top-eight ODI teams according to ICC rankings), will need to submit "cricket whereabouts information" rather than that of their personal whereabouts.
The majority of the players will be in the NPP, where they would be tested exclusively when they are in a team environment -- like when they are playing, on a tour, at a training camp or travelling with the team. Instead of the player doing it individually, the team management will file the whereabouts information for the player.
The "whereabouts" clause under the WADA required 11 players to be nominated to the international testing pool to reveal to an ICC-nominated officer before every quarter details of their whereabouts for an hour every day for three months to facilitate out-of-competition testing.
Top Indian players, including Sachin Tendulkar, had raised fears concerning their personal security. The Indian board supported its players and raised objection to the clause, citing it went against the country's constitution.
After lengthy discussions with the member cricket boards, the ICC came out an Anti-Doping Rule in its Singapore annual conference early this month.
"The ICC whereabouts rules will strengthen our out-of-competition testing programme as we strive to ensure that cricket remains drug-free. After a long and thorough process, we now have a tough and practical set of rules that will support our zero-tolerance approach to doping in our great sport," ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said.
"We know this is a complex area for players and administrators and I wish to thank all our Members for their willingness to find a workable solution. All of us are now satisfied that we have a code and rules that will support out-of-competition testing and protect international cricket from those who wish to cheat," Lorgat said.
"Our next steps are to educate the relevant players and administrators so that they understand their responsibilities under the new rules followed by 'live' implementation shortly thereafter," he added.
WADA Director General David Howman said, "The World Anti-Doping Agency congratulates the International Cricket Council for agreeing its new 'whereabouts rules'. It is another sign from cricket's governing body that it is serious about protecting the integrity of the sport. It will mean that the ICC's out-of-competition testing programme, under which any player can be tested at any time, will now be strengthened and it is a good step forward for cricket."
The ICC became a signatory to the WADA Code in November 2006 in order to enhance cricket's credibility as a global sport and to satisfy mandatory requirements for participating in events like the Olympics.
