Watson supports testing for recreational drugs

MELBOURNE: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson became the first player to support Cricket Australia's proposal to conduct out-of-competition testing for recreational drugs.

The Australian Cricketers' Association is conducting a survey, seeking its members' views on out-of-competition tests and what should be the consequences for a positive test.

The players' union will use the survey results to take a stand on the issue.

Twenty-six-year-old Watson said he would welcome such a policy.

"CA and the ACA are working through the details, but I would definitely welcome any testing, and you do want the game to be clean in every sense," Watson said.

"You have got to welcome that with open arms because that is the way society and sport is going. We have got to be at the forefront of that. We are full-time athletes, we are training all year round. We are playing, especially in the Australian team, all year round, as well," Watson said.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said they would proceed on the issue after holding discussions with various sports bodies and the government.

"We are going to talk to some other sports, talk to government and, in the fullness of time with the full information in front of us, we will make decisions about the way we want to go," Sutherland said.