Polity & GovernanceImportant2025-08-12

Passage of National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025

In News

What Happened

Parliament passed the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which cleared both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in August 2025. Introduced by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the legislation amends the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022. It overhauls the regulatory framework governing the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and its associated disciplinary bodies.

Why It Matters

The amendment brings India's anti-doping regime into strict compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code and the UNESCO Convention. By granting operational independence to NADA, it boosts the credibility of Indian sports governance globally, which is a crucial step as India prepares to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games.

Background

History & Context

India enacted the National Anti-Doping Act in 2022 to establish a domestic legal framework for anti-doping, creating NADA and the National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports. However, WADA raised concerns regarding the lack of institutional independence, as the Board retained powers to oversee and direct NADA's operations. To rectify these structural flaws and prevent conflicts of interest, the government introduced the 2025 Amendment Bill. It was passed alongside the National Sports Governance Bill to bring comprehensive reform to Indian sports.

What Changed

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Autonomy of Anti-Doping Bodies: BEFORE, the National Board could obtain information from and issue directions to the Disciplinary and Appeal Panels. NOW, these powers are removed, granting the NADA Director General and panels complete operational independence.
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Constitution of Appeal Panel: BEFORE, the National Board was responsible for constituting the Appeal Panel to hear doping disputes. NOW, this power has been transferred directly to the Central Government.
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Laboratory Accreditation: BEFORE, domestic dope testing labs could operate and merely had the option to obtain WADA accreditation if required. NOW, the law mandates that every testing lab must obtain and maintain WADA accreditation to function.
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Appeals to CAS: BEFORE, any person was allowed to file an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. NOW, only specified entities like WADA, the International Olympic Committee, and international-level athletes can file direct appeals to CAS.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This topic relates to the Class 11 Political Science textbook 'Indian Constitution at Work', specifically the concepts of statutory bodies and institutional autonomy. The amendment illustrates how statutory frameworks are modified to balance government oversight with the operational independence required by international treaties.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025? 1. It mandates that all dope testing laboratories in India must obtain and maintain accreditation from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). 2. It empowers the National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports to issue binding directions to the Disciplinary and Appeal Panels.

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