BCCI to take legal action against 'Outlook'

The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India Jaywant Lele today dismissed reports alleging Indian cricketers took steroids to enhance their performance and said the BCCI was contemplating legal action against the "reckless reportage" on the issue.

"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 that alleged Indian cricketers took banned drugs.

"I know it is all 'bakwas' (nonsense). Moreover, I had talked to Gaekwad regarding this and he has denied making any such statements," Lele told PTI in Ahmedabad.

'Outlook' magazine had quoted former Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad as saying that some Indian players are in the habit of taking banned substances.

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

Asked whether the BCCI has 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 was 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.