Oz Cricketers' Association backs BCCI's opposition to WADA's 'whereabouts' clause

Melbourne, Aug 8 (ANI): Australia's cricketers applauded the BCCI's stance this week to remove themselves from the World Anti Drug Agency's strict anti-doping code, and the Australian Cricketers' Association declared that it wanted an end to the controversial new code because it was too intrusive.

Under the code, athletes must declare to WADA three months in advance where they will be for an hour each day.

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The ICC is a signatory to the WADA code and Australia's top cricketers have been subjected to whereabouts reporting since July.

Indian cricketers have rebelled against the new regime and persuaded the BCCI to withdraw from the code. The ICC sent representatives to India last week in an unsuccessful bid to prevent the powerful Indian body from breaking away.

Australian Cricketers' Association chief Paul Marsh said: "'Cricket Australia has been aware of our concerns for some time. The whereabouts provisions are less than satisfactory."

The protest from Indian layers has sparked hopes that cricket might go its own way. "The Indians are taking on WADA here and we are watching with interest," The Age quoted Marsh, as saying.

The ICC announced on Friday that it had formed a working group that would "'work to resolve the India players' concerns and report back to the ICC Board at the earliest opportunity." (ANI)