Sports Ministry Introduces National Anti-Doping Bill 2025 To Boost NADA's Autonomy
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in Lok Sabha to enhance NADA's independence and align with WADA standards.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The proposed legislation aims to provide greater operational independence to the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), aligning India's framework with global standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Contentious Board Retained, but Powers Curtailed
One of the notable features of the bill is the retention of the National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports—a provision that had drawn criticism in the original 2022 Act. However, the Board will no longer have control over the NADA Appeals Panel, a key change aimed at reducing government influence over doping-related adjudication.
Under the original act passed in 2022, the Board had the authority to constitute the appeals panel and oversee NADA's activities. These provisions were flagged by WADA as signs of government interference, leading to a delay in the Act's implementation.
The amended bill explicitly states:
'The Director General or any other staff member of the Agency shall have operational independence from any National Sports Federation, International Federation, National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, or any Government department or agency with responsibility for sport or anti-doping."
WADA Compliance Prevents Possible Suspension
A day before the bill was tabled, a sports ministry source told PTI that the amendments were essential to avoid potential sanctions from WADA.
'If we had implemented the 2022 act, it would have invited a ban from WADA. Our lab would have been de-recognised. So, the changes were necessary," the source said.
India has been under close scrutiny by WADA in recent years, and aligning with global anti-doping standards was critical to maintaining its credibility and operational continuity in international sports.
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 analyzed 5,000 or more samples, according to WADA figures.
In 2023, India's positivity rate stood at 3.8%, with 214 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) out of 5,606 samples tested. This marked an increase in both sample size and positivity rate compared to 2022, when 3,865 tests yielded a 3.2% positivity rate.
Athletics, Weightlifting Lead in Doping Violations
Among Indian sports, athletics accounted for the highest number of positive cases in 2023 with 61 AAFs from 1,223 samples, including 567 in-competition, 539 out-of-competition urine samples, and 117 blood samples.
(with PTI inputs)
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
22 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Mission (im) possible: KL Rahul, Shubman Gill battle hard to give India a chance to save fourth Test
A few days back, Indian captain Shubman Gill was asked about the one thing about the new job that surprised him. He would smile and say that he doesn't get tired much as he mostly fields around the pitch but he does get mentally drained at the end of the day. So, after leading his deflated side for 157.1 overs, handling a bowling unit not sticking to plans and battling thoughts of a hard-fought series slipping, Shubman would have been mentally knackered at the end of the England innings. And just as he would have put his leg up in the dressing room, he had to rush back on to the field. The score was 0/2, Chris Woakes was on a hat-trick, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and No.3 Sai Sudharsan were back in the hut. After the worst couple of days of his captaincy, Gill was facing the toughest as skipper. It helped he had with him the calmest mind who was playing the tightest cricket on the tour, KL Rahul. In a partnership of epic proportions, Shubman and Rahul compiled an unbeaten 174, also India's total at stumps to revive a Test that looked lost and a series that seemed over. 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟒: 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐮𝐨 🤜🤛#KLRahul (87* off 210) and #ShubmanGill (78* off 167) stood strong on Day 4, digging India out of early trouble with a composed and crucial partnership under pressure 🔥 Catch the HIGHLIGHTS of Day 4 ➡ 👉… — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 26, 2025 Trailing by 311 runs and 0/2, the Test seemed irredeemable. Most teams would have given up, most captains would have thrown in the towel but not this one. After playing for two full sessions, facing 317 balls, Shubman (87) and Rahul (78) had given hope when all seemed lost. This is shaping into a partnership that can be compared to the Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman partnership of 2001. In case India can stick around for one more day, this could go down as a Test recovery for ages. There are just two possible results – 'the more likely' England win and after the solid Rahul-Shubman show, the 'not quite impossible' India draw. India has ensured this remains an unputdownable series. Rains are expected on the final day of the Test but so will be an overcast sky. There have been no easy days on this tour and they come with the promise of exciting cricket. Rahul with his methodical play and Test match technique could be expected to play controlled cricket but Shubman's inning came as a refreshing surprise for its sheer tenacity – a rare virtue in Indian cricket. After spending every ounce of his energy trying to figure out ways to get the English batsmen out for the team, Shubman now with a bat in hand had to fight an individual battle. In the last three innings – twice at Lord's and in the first innings here – he has gotten out trying to dead-bat or leave the balls coming into him. At Lord's he was caught behind while negotiating the ball in the corridor by Chris Woakes, and in the next inning he was hit on the knee roll by Brydon Carse and was out lbw. Here Stokes had bowled the same line and length, Shubman had shouldered arms to a ball that DRS showed was hitting his stumps. This has been an old Shubman problem and England has been repeatedly exploiting it. Woakes and Jofra Archer both would test the Indian captain with good length balls on the off-stump with a few surprise yorkers thrown in for variety. Shubman would be tentative initially – not sure to take the stride forward to meet the ball or leave it. This must have been the most harrowing time for the Indian dressing room. A ball a millimeter close or the bat a shade closer would result in an edge flying behind the stumps. That was how close India was from losing a series. KL 🤝 GILL A batting masterclass from @klrahul & @ShubmanGill bails #TeamIndia out of early trouble! 💪 The highest 3rd-wicket partnership of the series! 🙌🏻#ENGvIND 👉 4th TEST, DAY 4 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 26, 2025 From both the ends, England would attack Shubman with a barrage of nipbackers. Woakes with the talent of moving the ball in the air and Jofra Archer with the ability to make the ball come in sharply seemed close to wickets and were difficult to deal with. An early end to the game, an innings defeat to India on Day 4 was the most predicted outcome of this Test. In Jofra's second over, there were a couple of big appeals. First a Jofra late swinger would hit Gill on his boot, once again not sure about the stride forward. The skipper would survive as even technology was inconclusive. In the same over there was another appeal, once again Shubman was beaten on the front foot, since the ball was moving in too sharply they would avoid taking the DRS. It was in this crunch situation, while handling a personal and team crisis, that Shubman found a way to reset his batting technique, got hold of some spanner to tighten a few screws and grease some joints. Almost miraculously, he looked like a different batsman. There was the smooth transfer of weight and there was surety in his stride. This was a man refusing to give in, and a batsman who when troubled, not panicking but delving deep in the recesses of the mind to find a way to survive. He also was playing much straighter now. There were a couple of straight drives – one off Woakes and the other off Brydon Carse – that went racing to the sight screen from both sides of the stumps. On the second one, the graceful stroke-maker held his pose. This was a signal that he had dealt with that tough period of play. When on 48, luck too smiled on the brave captain. In a minor glitch in concentration, the India No.4 would try to over-reach for a Carse ball in the channel. He would edge to Liam Dawson at point, the ball would hit his hand but he couldn't catch it. 'Every batsman, at some stage of their life, changes the way they bat in Test cricket. Subman seems to be doing that brilliantly in England,' India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said. While Shubman was dealing with his demons, Rahul was a picture of composure. He was playing close to the body, meeting the ball late and moving away from the short balls. After the outside the off-stump bowling didn't give results, Stokes moved his troops on the other side of the field. For most of the final session, England bowled short balls on the body and placed four fielders square and behind the wicket. Rahul negated the ploy solidly. He wouldn't go for the pull but would bring the ball down. Now it was Stokes' turn to get frustrated. Before the Ashes, Rahul and Shubman gave a masterclass to the team that always plays for results, on the art and skill to play out a riveting draw.
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Sindh Mukti Sangathan pays rich tributes to martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas
Nagpur: Sindh Mukti Sangathan commemorated Kargil Vijay Diwas with great fervour at Rajkumar Kewalramani Girls College, Jaripatka. The event was presided over by the organisation's national president, Prof Vijay Kewalramani, who said the day is a tribute to the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to uphold the honour of the tricolour. He also lauded former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee 's crucial role in uniting the nation during the war. General secretary Kailash Kewalramani called the Kargil War an unforgettable saga of Indian bravery. College principal Neelam Ahuja emphasised that Kargil sent a strong message to Pakistan. Vice-principal Rashmi Wadhwani highlighted the war's heavy toll, and treasurer Richa Kewalramani said the day reminds us of the price we are ready to pay for our flag. Poonam Somkuwar called it a symbol of India's pride. The event saw the presence of faculty members and dignitaries. Mitali Mehta anchored the programme, and Richa Kewalramani proposed a vote of thanks.
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
HC denies relief on plea to set time limit for information commissions
Madurai: Madras high court has denied relief to a man who sought a directive for the Central Information Commission, New Delhi, and the State Information Commission, Chennai, to dispose of appeals filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by setting a time limit. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed in 2020 by M Selvakumar. In addition to seeking a time limit, the petitioner requested an increase in the number of commissioners in both commissions. He further sought the establishment of a branch of the State Information Commission in Madurai for public convenience. A division bench of justice S M Subramaniam and justice A D Maria Clete observed that the relief sought to direct the commissions, to dispose of appeals by setting a time limit could not be granted. The commissions are created statutorily, and the workload is to be regulated by the commission itself. The high court, in exercising its powers of judicial review, cannot direct the commission to dispose of appeals by setting a time limit, as it is impractical and would result in a futile exercise. The cases, which are to be decided on a priority basis or by seniority, are to be regulated by the commission. If any specific grievance exists, the petitioner is at liberty to approach the commission for the speedy disposal of the case, the judges observed, and disposed of the petition.
