New National Sporting Governance Bill Will 'Will Usher In New Sporting Culture', Opines Kiren Rijiju

News18

19-07-2025

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The 53-year-old Lok Sabha MP opined that the new bill will prove to be a watershed moment in the history of Indian sports.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed that the National Sports Governance Bill, which is set to be tabled on Monday, would pave the way for a revolution in the culture of sports in India.
The 53-year-old Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal, who was the union sports minister for two years between 2019 and 2021, opined that the new bill will prove to be a watershed moment in the history of Indian sports.
'It's a historic bill coming for the sporting community," Rijiju said.
Rijiju went on to thank the Honourable Prime Minister of the nation, Shri. Narendra Modi, for his ardent encouragement of athletes.
'I must thank Prime Minister Narendra Modiji for having such a visionary idea about transforming the sports sector," he said.
'There are two other things — the Khelo Bharat Niti and the anti-doping amendment bill," he added.
'Once the new sports bill is passed, it will usher in a new sporting culture in the country," he declared.
'Khelo India has already promoted sports culture in the country," Rijiju concluded.
The bill aims to establish a framework for effective governance within the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). It calls for the creation of a regulatory board with the authority to grant recognition and allocate funding to NSFs based on their compliance with good governance practices.
This regulatory board will also be tasked with ensuring adherence to the highest standards of governance, financial management, and ethics. Over several years of extensive discussions, the NSFs have been included, especially following Mandaviya's appointment last year.
Additionally, the bill proposes the formation of Ethics Commissions and Dispute Resolution Commissions to enhance transparency in governance and reduce litigation, which often results in conflicts between athletes and administrators on matters such as selection and elections.
The IOA has opposed the bill, arguing that the establishment of a regulatory board would undermine its role as the central body for all NSFs. Current IOA President P T Usha has warned that such government interference could risk India's suspension by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
However, Mandaviya has emphasized that the IOC was consulted during the drafting of the proposed legislation, which is crucial as India is aiming to host the Olympics in 2036.
Rijiju, who advocated for the autonomy of sports administrators with increased accountability during his tenure in the sports ministry, expressed confidence in the smooth passage of the bill through Parliament.
The anti-doping act, initially passed in 2022, faced implementation delays due to objections from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). WADA raised concerns about the establishment of a National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports, which was given the authority to make recommendations to the government on anti-doping regulations.
The board, to consist of a Chairperson and two members appointed by the central government, was also granted oversight of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the power to issue directives to it.
WADA rejected these provisions, citing government interference in an autonomous body. Consequently, the amended bill has removed this provision to comply with WADA standards.
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