da dobrowin： “The Code of Conduct is almost ready and we will soon announce it,”Sports Minister Uma Bharti told PTI, adding that these should beimplemented by the States as well as the National Sports Federations
20-Apr-2001″The Code of Conduct is almost ready and we will soon announce it,”Sports Minister Uma Bharti told PTI, adding that these should beimplemented by the States as well as the National Sports Federations.Sports being in the State List, the Government had to take the viewsof all the States, which unanimously favoured the Centre’s initiativeto rein in players in the wake of the CBI report indicting several topcricketers for their alleged involvement in the match-fixing andbetting scandal, the Minister said.She said the Government was of the view that the Code should beimplemented by the Federations themselves and for this they would betaken into confidence before announcing it. “Cricket se to hamariankhen khuli hein (It was the scandal in cricket which opened our eyesto the menace),” Bharti said adding the “too much commercialisation ofthe game has brought it to such an impasse.”The Code of Conduct was prepared after studying those of variouscountries and the provisions made there in, the Sports Ministersaid.”All the points which were found good enough to stop the menaceof match-fixing have been considered favourably and views of expertsin various fields were taken for preparing the Code of Conduct forIndian players,” she said. Asked whether CBI was still continuing itsprobe in the match-fixing and betting scandal which originated withDelhi Police taping the conversation between disgraced South Afrciancaptain Hansie Cronje and a bookie, Bharti said “no more inquiry isbeing conducted by CBI at present.”She said the Government was not against cricketers getting good moneyfrom the game as their playing career was short. “But we are againsttoo much commercialisation which lures players to look for easieroptions to make money,” Bharti added.”If commercialisation of cricket becomes the sole motive of theorganisers, then it no longer stays a game but becomes business. Andthis is what the Government wants to stop,” the Sports Minister said.