Anti-doping bill 2025 passed: Independent panels, no athlete fines, Wada demands met
New Delhi:
An independent Appeals panel, the non-imposition of financial sanctions on athletes caught doping and ensuring the operational independence of the nation's anti-doping watchdog are some of the key highlights of the 'National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025', which was introduced in Parliament by sports minister
Mansukh Mandaviya
on Wednesday.
The bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha after the govt addressed objections raised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), which included reducing the extensive powers granted to the proposed 'National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports' under the legislation.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
The original bill, introduced by then sports minister Anurag Thakur and passed by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in 2022, faced significant scrutiny from Wada for sustained govt interference and undermining the independence of the National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada).
The govt's continued control over Nada and the Appeals panel through the formation of the anti-doping Board led Wada to threaten a ban on India by disaffiliating the nation as its member and derecognising the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) in Delhi.
Following intense discussions between the sports ministry under Mandaviya and Wada officials, an amended version of the bill was introduced without substantial govt interference.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World
5minstory.com
Undo
Prior to the bill's introduction, supervision and control over Nada were exercised by a governing body chaired by the sports minister. The Lausanne-based Wada, while revising its anti-doping Code, ensured that National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) remain free from any govt overreach, citing conflicts of interest when NADOs are controlled by their respective union govt.
Poll
Do you support the removal of financial sanctions on athletes caught doping?
Yes, it's a fair decision.
No, there should be consequences.
Once the legislation becomes an Act, the anti-doping Board will no longer oversee the Appeals panel as was the case in the original bill passed in Aug 2022.
Additionally, a clause in the previous bill that allowed the imposition of financial sanctions, including proportionate recovery of costs from athletes, was removed after Wada objected to it.
'The amended bill seeks to enhance institutional and operational independence of the Appeals panel and Nada to ensure autonomy in their decisions pertaining to operations, investigations and enforcement activities,' stated the bill's objectives.
The amended version includes: 'The Board may call for such information from the Disciplinary panel and the Appeals Panel on its operations and issue such directions, as may be necessary, for the effective and timely discharge of their functions with respect to Anti-Doping Rule Violations under this Act. Provided that such directions shall be limited to procedural efficiency of the Disciplinary Panel and the Appeals Panel and shall not, in any case, interfere with their decision making process.
'
The amended bill comes as India topped Wada's 2023 testing figures last month, analysing 5,000 or more samples.
Salient Features of the bill
* To promote and strengthen the anti-doping measures in sports and to provide a statutory framework for the operation of the Nada, NDTL and for creation of the National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports.
* Enhance institutional and operational independence of the Appeals Panel and Nada to ensure autonomy in their decisions pertaining to operations, investigations and enforcement activities.
* Further align the provisions of the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 with international best practices and the Wada Code.
* Provide that such of the provisions of the Wada Code as are set out in the Schedule shall have the force of law in India
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
23 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Abhishek Banerjee appointed as TMC Lok Sabha party chief, replaces Sudip Bandyopadhyay
Taking to X in the late evening, Abhishek said, 'I am deeply honoured by the trust reposed in me by our party chairperson Didi @MamataOfficial and my fellow MPs of the All India Trinamool Congress, in choosing me to lead our parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha.' 'With full commitment and humility, I take on this responsibility and pledge to work closely with all my colleagues to ensure that Trinamool's voice remains strong and unwavering in Parliament. Together, we will continue to resist the authoritarianism of the Union Government and defend the core values of our Constitution - JUSTICE, LIBERTY, EQUALITY AND FRATERNITY,' he stated. 'Our mission remains clear: To protect the rights, respect and aspirations of the people of Bengal. I thank every dedicated worker and supporter of the @AITCofficial for their continued belief in me and our cause and I am also extremely grateful to our senior parliamentarians for their invaluable support, guidance and encouragement,' the post added. The development marks a significant step in consolidating Abhishek's stature within the party, adding to his role as national general secretary — widely seen as the second-most important position in the TMC. Political observers called the decision 'inevitable', given Abhishek's growing influence over party affairs in recent years. He was also designated as the TMC's 'Delhi spokesperson' during the working committee meeting in November last year. Sources said Mamata addressed Sudip Bandyopadhyay directly during the virtual meeting and asked him to rest and focus on recovery. 'Didi told him that Abhishek will look after the Lok Sabha responsibilities now, including preparing the list of speakers and obtaining her approval,' said an MP present in the meeting. When Bandyopadhyay offered to return to Delhi, Mamata reportedly told him it was not necessary. Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who has been battling illness for months, has not attended a single sitting of the current Parliament session. Another TMC veteran, Saugata Roy, is also unwell and currently hospitalised.
New Indian Express
23 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Mamata Banerjee appoints nephew Abhishek Banerjee as TMC Lok Sabha party chief, replaces Sudip Bandyopadhyay
Taking to X in the late evening, Abhishek said, 'I am deeply honoured by the trust reposed in me by our party chairperson Didi @MamataOfficial and my fellow MPs of the All India Trinamool Congress, in choosing me to lead our parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha.' 'With full commitment and humility, I take on this responsibility and pledge to work closely with all my colleagues to ensure that Trinamool's voice remains strong and unwavering in Parliament. Together, we will continue to resist the authoritarianism of the Union Government and defend the core values of our Constitution - JUSTICE, LIBERTY, EQUALITY AND FRATERNITY,' he stated. 'Our mission remains clear: To protect the rights, respect and aspirations of the people of Bengal. I thank every dedicated worker and supporter of the @AITCofficial for their continued belief in me and our cause and I am also extremely grateful to our senior parliamentarians for their invaluable support, guidance and encouragement,' the post added. The development marks a significant step in consolidating Abhishek's stature within the party, adding to his role as national general secretary — widely seen as the second-most important position in the TMC. Political observers called the decision 'inevitable', given Abhishek's growing influence over party affairs in recent years. He was also designated as the TMC's 'Delhi spokesperson' during the working committee meeting in November last year. Sources said Mamata addressed Sudip Bandyopadhyay directly during the virtual meeting and asked him to rest and focus on recovery. 'Didi told him that Abhishek will look after the Lok Sabha responsibilities now, including preparing the list of speakers and obtaining her approval,' said an MP present in the meeting. When Bandyopadhyay offered to return to Delhi, Mamata reportedly told him it was not necessary. Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who has been battling illness for months, has not attended a single sitting of the current Parliament session. Another TMC veteran, Saugata Roy, is also unwell and currently hospitalised.
NDTV
23 minutes ago
- NDTV
PM Modi To Address NDA Parliamentary Meeting Tomorrow
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the BJP-led NDA parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, a get-together of the ruling alliance's MPs which is being held after a considerable gap. The NDA meeting comes a couple of days before the filing of nomination for vice president's election begins from August 7. The NDA will have to announce its candidate, whose election will be a certainty due to the alliance's majority in the electoral college, by August 21, the last date of nomination-filing and the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The meeting comes in the middle of a session which has been all but a washout so far, except for a two-day discussion on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, due to a united Opposition's ceaseless protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar by the Election Commission. PM Modi is expected to speak on a host of current issues as the Opposition has been raising the heat over the poll body's alleged partisan conduct favouring the government, and the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The prime minister is also likely to be felicitated by the parliamentary party over his government's military response to the terror strike. The electoral college for the vice president poll includes MPs of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and its current strength is 782. If the Opposition also names a candidate, a distinct possibility, then the poll is scheduled to be held on September 9. Since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the BJP lost its majority but comfortably crossed the halfway mark with allies, the sessional meeting of the party's MPs was expanded to include its allies. PM Modi had addressed the first such meeting on July 2. However, no meeting has been held in the last few sessions. Before the last national elections, he used to address the weekly meetings of BJP parliamentary party, now expanded to include party's allies such as the TDP, JD(U), and LJP (Ram Vilas). The meeting is attended by MPs of the ruling alliance, and PM Modi often covers a sweep of political and governance issues, and at times touches on the government's agenda in Parliament. He often offers to the MPs talking points to be raised in public, especially their constituencies.
