ANTI-DOPING BILL NOW IN LINE WITH WADA DEMAND

Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday tabled the amended National Anti-Doping Bill in the Lok Sabha with a view to provide greater “operational independence” to NADA as prescribed by the world body (WADA).

- HT Correspondent

Among the highlights of the Bill is the retention of the contentious National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports, albeit its powers have been curtailed. The Board will no longer have the NADA appeals panel under its jurisdiction as was the case in the original act passed in 2022. These provisions were flagged by WADA as signs of government interference.

The amendments were imperative to ensure that India does not end up being suspended by WADA that has been keeping a close watch over NADA in recent years.

The introduction of the amended bill comes shortly after India emerged as the top country in terms of total doping tests conducted in 2023 among nations that analysed 5,000 or more samples, according to WADA figures.