| Player: | Z Khan |
DateLine: 10th August 2009
India left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan said he and his teammates merely raised their voice against the WADA code.
Fending criticism that the Indian cricketers have been defiant in their approach to the new WADA code, Zaheer said cricketers raised their voice against an issue that affects every sportsperson across the world.
Zaheer said neither he nor any of his 10 teammates named in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) pool for out-of-testing had any problem with the code other than the 'whereabout' clause which requires them to inform their availability and location three months in advance.
"We absolutely have no objection to be tested. We know it's important for the game that the players are tested, it's undoubtedly for the betterment of the game. It's only a particular clause that we don't agree to," Zaheer told reporters.
"We are ready to be tested anytime but we are concerned about the 'whereabout' clause," he said.
Claiming that the Indian cricketers are not isolated in their objection to the clause, Zaheer said, "I'm sure athletes all over the world have problems with the clause. It is high time someone took the initiative and we are happy that we did it.
"We got the cricket board's support as well and will go by whatever the BCCI says," said Zaheer, who has been ruled out of competitive cricket till the end of the year because of a shoulder injury.
