Sports Minister introduced ‘Anti-Doping Bill’

Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur, introduced “Anti-Doping Bill” on December 17, 2021 in Lok Sabha.

Key Points of the bill

• The bill seeks to provide statutory framework for the functioning of National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
• Bill empowers NADA to conduct raids and strengthen measures of tackling drug abuse in Indian
• It will also provide statutory framework for the operation National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) and other dope testing laboratories as well.
• It also provides for creation of a National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports in order to strengthen anti-doping activities in sport.

Power to NADA

• The bill seeks to provide NADA with the powers of investigation, powers of inspection, sample collection and sharing & free flow of information, levying sanctions for Anti-Doping Rule Violations and disciplinary procedures to be adopted.
• Clause 19 of the bill provides NADA the power of “entry, search and seizure” by any person authorised by it, in order to determine if any anti-doping rule violation has been committed.
• However, the procedure to be adopted has to be in accordance with the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

Powers of NADA

Earlier, NADA had no authority of conducting raids and the anti-doping appeal panel of NADA has held the same. Many former sportspersons, head of National Sports Federations and experts have been calling for an anti-doping legislation to give more teeth to the existing rules made under the WADA Anti-Doping Code.

Status of NDTL

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has currently suspended the NDTL as it failed to meet technical requirements.

Background

India has signed the “United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation International Convention” in 2005 against Doping in Sport and ratified it in November 2007. Following this, Indian Government had established the NDTL in 2008 and NADA in 2009. Both were established as societies under Societies Registration Act. With this bill, both the agencies will be dissolved and reconstituted.

Reconstitution of NADA

The NADA will be constituted as a body corporate, with same name. Its head office will continue to be in New Delhi. It will be headed by a Director General, who will be appointed by central government.

National Board for Anti-Doping in Sport

Proposed bill also seeks to establish a National Board for Anti-Doping in Sport, comprising of a chairperson and two other members, who will be appointed by central government.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2021