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Whereabouts clause is like an iron chain: Harbhajan

Last Updated : 10 August 2009, 09:54 IST
Last Updated : 10 August 2009, 09:54 IST

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"We never go out and preach other sports their code of conduct and that is what I expect from my respected colleagues from other sports too. At no point (do) I feel that we are doing more for our country than them or we are at a higher platform from them," the off spinner has written in his latest blog on bigadda.com.

"In a nutshell, this clause is like an iron chain around my valuable time which belongs to me, my family and my close ones," he says.

Reiterating once again that the clause, that requires players to disclose their whereabouts on each day for the next three months in advance, was an intrusion on privacy, the feisty bowler said he and other cricketers affected by the clause have been portrayed as villains in the media.

"It seems like everyone and anyone has a view on it and the majority blaming us for creating much ado about nothing. It has become such a huge crime, that the intellects from all walks of life have obliged us by making us realise how irresponsible we are as sportspersons and as citizens of this civilised world.

"The general outlook is that we are spoiled brats who want doping to continue in the chaste world of sports or hardly care about this serious issue," he says.

Harbhajan pointed out he has been dope-tested on a a minimum of 15 occasions in the past eight years and has always been co-operative.

"In the last eight years I have been tested at least 15 times (the recent one being the one in the World-T20 in England along with Dhoni) and every time I bowed gleefully to the demands of the circumstances," he explains.

Supporting the fight against drug use in sports, the off spinner has written he was against any kind of drug use and, as a responsible sportsperson, would like the menace to be banished from the arena.

"I would like to clarify one thing here that we are responsible sportsmen and completely understand that proper measures should be taken to uproot this menace from the arena of sports. We support the cause and are up for it. Personally, I am against any kind of drugs and that is what I would recommend to all the upcoming youngsters," Harbhajan says.

Harbhajan says he could miss a dope test at the prescribed time and day for having changed his mind and gone out on a long drive with his friend or accompanied his mother to the Golden Temple on her specific request.

"And in the process of all my personal commitments, if I am not available in their (WADA's) prescribed radar, I have a missed test label against my name.

"Three incidents like this and a ban of one to two years waits gracefully for me. And going by how efficient Indian media is, it will find way in some newspaper or another, questioning my integrity and commitment," he said.

Harbhajan said there were better ways to catch the drug-taking culprits in sports.

"To put it more relatively, I would like others to imagine themselves being under a 24 hour vigilance for the coming three months.

"And to add to it, one is under scrutiny all the time and answerable to every search conducted. How many of you will agree or won't protest against it? I am sure there are better ways to catch the real cheats," he says.

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Published 10 August 2009, 09:43 IST

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