The National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021 Passed:
The bill seeks to provide a statutory framework for the functioning of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the National Dope Testing Laboratory in sports.
- It also seeks to give effect to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation International Convention against doping in sports and compliance with such other obligations and commitments.
- Aim of the bill: It prohibits athletes, athlete support personnel and other persons from engaging in doping in sports.
- Doping is the consumption of certain prohibited substances by athletes to enhance performance.
Key Features of the passed bill:
- The Bill prohibits athletes, athlete support personnel and other persons from engaging in doping in sports.
- Support personnel includes the coach, trainer, manager, team staff, medical personnel, and other persons working with or treating or assisting an athlete.
- No violation of the following rules:
- presence of prohibited substances or their markers in an athlete’s body
- use, attempted use or possession of prohibited substances or methods
- refusing to submit a sample
- trafficking or attempted trafficking in prohibited substances or methods, and
- aiding or covering up such violations.
- If any athlete requires a prohibited substance or method due to a medical condition, they may apply to the National Anti-Doping Agency for a therapeutic use exemption.
- Anti-doping rule violation by an individual athlete or athlete support personnel may result in disqualification from an event already held- seizer of prize, ineligibility to participate in a competition to be held, and financial sanctions
- Currently, anti-doping rules are implemented by the National Anti-Doping Agency, which was established as a society.
- The Bill provides for constituting this National Anti-Doping Agency as a statutory It will be headed by a Director General appointed by the central government.
- The Agency will also have the power to collect certain personal data of athletes such as (a) sex or gender, (ii) medical history, and (iii) whereabout information of athletes (for out of competition testing and collection of samples).
- National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports: The Bill establishes a National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports to make recommendations to the government on anti-doping regulation and compliance with international commitments on anti-doping.
- Anti-doping Appeal Panels: The Board will constitute a National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel for determining the consequences of anti-doping rule violations.
- This Panel will consist of a Chairperson and four Vice-Chairpersons (all legal experts), and ten members (medical practitioners and retired eminent athletes).
