The sports ministry made a climbdown from their earlier stand that the Indian cricket board comply completely with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code and also watered down the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act but has retained the contentious age and tenure limits for Indian Olympic Association and National Sports Federation officials. The last time the bill was tabled before the cabinet in August,there were strong protests from ICC chief Sharad Pawar and his Nationalist Congress Party colleague and All India Football Federation president Praful Patel,among others,with regard to the age and tenure of sports administration officials and the inclusion of the WADA codes whereabouts clause. On Monday,sports minister Ajay Maken said that following objections from the BCCI,decision was taken to exclude cricketers from the whereabouts clause. The ICC does not follow certain WADA rules and in these cases the rules of international federation,the ICC,will prevail over the WADA Code, Maken said. It is not that the WADA Code will not apply to cricketers but in those cases where there is conflict,the ICC rules will prevail. It is also not an exemption to BCCI,it is to the ICC, the sports minister said. The BCCI had backed its players stand with regard to not adhering to the whereabouts clause citing security-related issues. An exclusion clause has also been inserted with regards to the RTI Act to protect certain information pertaining to selection and appointment of athletes and coaches,performance of an athlete and relating to health,fitness and doping issues. The BCCI too wasnt in favour of being brought under the RTI act. This has been done to ensure that our athletes are not in a disadvantageous position as compared to our competitors from other countries by revealing the health condition of our players. This issue was raised by many former and current athletes, Maken elaborated. Easier recognition The annual registration of the National Sports Federations (NSF) required for their continued recognition has also been done away with the concept of one-time recognition being introduced. Also,the requirement of a national sports federation being in existence for at least three years to be considered for recognition has been removed. The discretion of the government to recognise a national olympic committee and a NSF has been eliminated. In the event the central government feels that these criteria have not been met or there is any other discrepancy,it can refer the matter to an Independent Appellate Sports Tribunal. Efforts have been made to streamline the Bill while retaining basic principles of transparency,good governance and de-control from government. Serious consideration has been given to remove the perception that the ministry was seeking to interfere in sports. I am hopeful that the revised Bill will get Cabinets approval, Maken said. A copy has been sent to the IOA and the NSFs and their comments are expected in two weeks time.
