Government introduces two Bills in Lok Sabha, seeks to transform sports governance landscape

Time of India

5 days ago

NEW DELHI: Keeping an eye on India's bid for the 2036 summer Olympic games, the govt on Wednesday introduced two sports related proposed legislations in the Lok Sabha. It includes the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 that proposes to institute a national-level Board which will have sweeping powers to lay down rules to ensure accountability and oversee the functioning of federations, including the cash-rich cricket body the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
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The other Bill - National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025 - pertains to amending the existing legislation (National Anti-Doping Act, 2022) to make the country's law in sync with the international best practices and the World Anti-Doping Code.
'It is the endeavour of India to host major international sports events in the country and preparation for the same are underway. Also, as a part of the preparatory activities for the bidding of Summer Olympic Games 2036, it is imperative that the sports governance landscape undergoes a positive transformation...,'
said Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya in the National Sports Governance Bill's statement of objectives.
Both the Bills were introduced in the House by Mandaviya in a din as the opposition members indulged in noisy protests against the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Besides having a provision of establishing a National Sports Board, the National Sports Governance Bill also provides for setting up a National Sports Tribunal, which will have the powers of a civil court to dispose of sports related disputes ranging from selection to election involving federations and athletes.
There will, however, be a provision for appeal to the Supreme Court against any order of the Tribunal, unless the International charters and statutes provide for appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Once the Bill becomes a law, all recognised national sports bodies, including BCCI, will come under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005. The move has long been opposed by the BCCI since it is not dependent on government funding.
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The Bill also has provision of restricting the use of national name and insignia for any competition without obtaining necessary approval.
Establishment of the National Sports Governing Bodies for the respective recognised sports organisations, and setting up a National Sports Election Panel consisting of former members of the Election Commission of India or the State Election Commission to oversee the conduct of free and fair elections to the executive committees and the athletes committee of the national sports bodies are other key provisions of the Bill.
The other bill - National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill-2025 - seeks to incorporate the changes sought by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which had in the past objected to government interference in the functioning of the country's Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
'It has been the constant endeavour of the government of India to strengthen the anti-doping framework and the amendments to the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 are proposed in keeping with the need to align the said Act with the international best practices and the World Anti-Doping Code,' said Mandaviya in the Bill's statement of objectives.
The Bill also seeks to enhance institutional and operational independence of the National Anti-Doping Appeal panel and the National Anti-Doping Agency to ensure autonomy in their decisions pertaining to operations, investigations and enforcement activities.