BCCI may sue Outlook

Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Jaywant Lele on Wednesday dismissed allegations that Indian cricketers took steroids to enhance performance and said the board is contemplating legal action against the "reckless reportage".

"We will take up the matter at the working committee meeting of the BCCI, scheduled to be held in August. Only then we will decide what course of action should be taken against Outlook for making such wild allegations.

"If necessary, we would even take recourse to legal action," he said, reacting to a report in the weekly magazine, which alleged that Indian cricketers took banned drugs.

"I know it is all 'bakwas' [nonsense]. Moreover, I had talked to [Anshuman] Gaekwad regarding this and he has denied making any such statements," Lele said in Ahmedabad.

The magazine, Outlook, had quoted former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad as saying that some Indian players are in the habit of taking banned preparations.

"No player ever took performance-enhancing drugs now or ever. The report is all bakwas," Lele fumed, when asked whether he was aware of any such unhealthy practice among cricketers.

Asked whether the BCCI issued any instructions, asking players not to take drugs after the controversy erupted, Lele said such a question did not arise.

"With nothing of this sort existing, should we issue instructions to the players?" he asked.

Lele said the Indian team, currently in Zimbabwe, is very upset with the report. "Farak to padega (certainly, it would have some impact). The boys are very upset.

"I had a talk with the Indian team management and asked them not to worry about such baseless reports and carry on the good work. But it did have a demoralising effect," Lele said.

Also see:
'Outlook' responds to Gaekwad
'The Indian team doesn't take steroids'

Mail Cricket Editor