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News18
14 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Transparency, Autonomy, Resolution: How The National Sports Bill Aims To Redefine Indian Sporting Scene
Last Updated: The National Sports Governance Bill 2025 aims to boost transparency, autonomy, and dispute resolution in Indian sports, aiming for top-10 Olympic status by 2036. After years of planning, consultation, and global benchmarking, the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 is ready for introduction—poised to redefine the future of sports administration in India. The bill, which Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will table in Parliament on Wednesday during the ongoing monsoon session, aims to instill transparency, fairness, and robust governance across the country's sports ecosystem. A core focus of the bill is to ensure the independent and efficient functioning of national sports bodies, free from political interference. It brings these organizations under a unified regulatory framework while preserving their operational autonomy. One of the bill's major provisions is the establishment of a Sports Tribunal—a dedicated body to resolve disputes between athletes, office-bearers, and sports federations. Though the judiciary retains ultimate review powers, the tribunal is intended to provide a faster, more specialized mechanism for conflict resolution. Importantly, the bill also defers to the Olympic Charter in case of any policy conflict, reinforcing India's commitment to global standards of sport governance. The legislation supports India's broader ambition to become a top-10 Olympic nation by 2036. To this end, it mandates athlete representation in every National Sports Federation (NSF), enforces international best practices for high-performance governance, and prioritizes merit-based selection processes—minimizing internal rifts that often hinder Olympic preparations. Regular audits of NSFs will promote financial accountability and ensure optimal use of public funds allocated for elite sports development. The bill also lays down legal clarity around governance roles, enhancing India's credibility with bodies like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and boosting prospects for hosting future international events. Athletes at the Center of Governance Placing athletes at the heart of decision-making, the bill requires each NSF to form Athlete Committees and include Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) in their leadership structures. This gives athletes a direct role in shaping sport-specific policies and ethical standards. The bill guarantees safe, harassment-free environments and establishes transparent, accessible grievance redressal mechanisms. It also aims to reduce career disruptions caused by drawn-out legal battles—creating a governance model rooted in accountability, athlete welfare, and inclusive administration across all levels of Indian sport. (with IANS inputs) view comments 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.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Fencers urge federation to reinstate checks on ‘neutral' Russian, Belarusian athletes ahead of World Championships
More than 440 fencers from 40 countries signed an open letter urging the International Fencing Federation (FIE) to reinstate rigorous background checks on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under neutral status. The letter, released by the Global Athlete movement on Thursday, follows the FIE's decision to list Russian and Belarusian fencers as 'neutrals' for the July 22–26 World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia. The move has sparked criticism, with Ukraine's Fencing Federation saying it is considering unspecified legal action over the inclusion of athletes with Russian military ranks. Russia's war in Ukraine is more than three years old, after it invaded its neighbour in 2022. Elite fencers expressed their 'deep concern and disagreement' with the FIE's move to replace broader checks with a declaration of peace and neutrality. 'By removing comprehensive background checks, the FIE risks allowing individuals whose affiliations or actions conflict with the values of neutrality and non-violence to compete under a neutral status,' the letter read. 'The FIE's decision contradicts the core principles of fencing—respect, integrity, and fair play—and deviates from the approach originally taken by the international sporting community.' The FIE did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Last week, the FIE defended its stance, stating that it 'underscores the Federation's commitment to peace, fairness, and the global unity of sport'. 'Our approach is guided by our duty to protect athletes and preserve the integrity of competition. It is firmly anchored in the Olympic Charter and in our mission to safeguard the values of fencing,' the statement released last Friday said. 'The FIE's decision responds to a shared belief that athletes must not bear the consequences of geopolitical events beyond their control.' The European Fencing Confederation also criticised 'the lack of independent verification in the eligibility process for so-called neutral athletes'. Ukrainian Olympic multi-medallist Olga Kharlan, disqualified at the 2023 World Championships for refusing to shake hands with a Russian opponent, warned that FIE's decisions could jeopardise the sport's place in the Olympic program. 'We are really close to that moment that we won't be an Olympic sport, because this is not good for the promotion of the Olympic movement,' Kharlan told DW. 'To see (Russians) in competitions, it's an injustice for us.' Related Topics International Fencing Federation
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Fencing-Fencers urge federation to reinstate checks on 'neutral' Russian, Belarusian athletes
(Reuters) -More than 440 fencers from 40 countries signed an open letter urging the International Fencing Federation (FIE) to reinstate rigorous background checks on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under neutral status. The letter, released by the Global Athlete movement on Thursday, follows the FIE's decision to list Russian and Belarusian fencers as 'neutrals' for the July 22–26 World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia. The move has sparked criticism, with Ukraine's Fencing Federation saying it is considering unspecified legal action over the inclusion of athletes with Russian military ranks. Russia's war in Ukraine is more than three years old, after it invaded its neighbour in 2022. Elite fencers expressed their "deep concern and disagreement" with the FIE's move to replace broader checks with a declaration of peace and neutrality. "By removing comprehensive background checks, the FIE risks allowing individuals whose affiliations or actions conflict with the values of neutrality and non-violence to compete under a neutral status," the letter read. "The FIE's decision contradicts the core principles of fencing—respect, integrity, and fair play—and deviates from the approach originally taken by the international sporting community." The FIE did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Last week, the FIE defended its stance, stating that it "underscores the Federation's commitment to peace, fairness, and the global unity of sport." "Our approach is guided by our duty to protect athletes and preserve the integrity of competition. It is firmly anchored in the Olympic Charter and in our mission to safeguard the values of fencing," the statement released last Friday said. "The FIE's decision responds to a shared belief that athletes must not bear the consequences of geopolitical events beyond their control." The European Fencing Confederation also criticised "the lack of independent verification in the eligibility process for so-called neutral athletes." Ukrainian Olympic multi-medalist Olga Kharlan, disqualified at the 2023 World Championships for refusing to shake hands with a Russian opponent, warned that FIE's decisions could jeopardise the sport's place in the Olympic program. "We are really close to that moment that we won't be an Olympic sport, because this is not good for the promotion of the Olympic movement," Kharlan told DW. "To see (Russians) in competitions, it's an injustice for us." (Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Fencing-Fencers urge federation to reinstate checks on 'neutral' Russian, Belarusian athletes
Find out what's new on ST website and app. More than 440 fencers from 40 countries signed an open letter urging the International Fencing Federation (FIE) to reinstate rigorous background checks on Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under neutral status. The letter, released by the Global Athlete movement on Thursday, follows the FIE's decision to list Russian and Belarusian fencers as 'neutrals' for the July 22–26 World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia. The move has sparked criticism, with Ukraine's Fencing Federation saying it is considering unspecified legal action over the inclusion of athletes with Russian military ranks. Russia's war in Ukraine is more than three years old, after it invaded its neighbour in 2022. Elite fencers expressed their "deep concern and disagreement" with the FIE's move to replace broader checks with a declaration of peace and neutrality. "By removing comprehensive background checks, the FIE risks allowing individuals whose affiliations or actions conflict with the values of neutrality and non-violence to compete under a neutral status," the letter read. "The FIE's decision contradicts the core principles of fencing—respect, integrity, and fair play—and deviates from the approach originally taken by the international sporting community." The FIE did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Last week, the FIE defended its stance, stating that it "underscores the Federation's commitment to peace, fairness, and the global unity of sport." "Our approach is guided by our duty to protect athletes and preserve the integrity of competition. It is firmly anchored in the Olympic Charter and in our mission to safeguard the values of fencing," the statement released last Friday said. "The FIE's decision responds to a shared belief that athletes must not bear the consequences of geopolitical events beyond their control." The European Fencing Confederation also criticised "the lack of independent verification in the eligibility process for so-called neutral athletes." Ukrainian Olympic multi-medalist Olga Kharlan, disqualified at the 2023 World Championships for refusing to shake hands with a Russian opponent, warned that FIE's decisions could jeopardise the sport's place in the Olympic program. "We are really close to that moment that we won't be an Olympic sport, because this is not good for the promotion of the Olympic movement," Kharlan told DW. "To see (Russians) in competitions, it's an injustice for us." REUTERS
Hans India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
National Sports Governance Bill to be tabled in Parliament
New Delhi: Thelong-delayed National Sports Governance Bill will be tabled in the Parliament in this upcoming Monsoon Session, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, announced here on Monday. The bill, which has been in the process since October 2024, aims to ensure transparency, fairness and good governance in the country's sports ecosystem. 'The bill will be tabled in the Parliament during the upcoming session. I will give more details in a couple of days,' Dr Mandaviya told the media at an event launching the Department of Youth Affairs' initiatives against drug addiction. The bill aims to establish a regulatory board, called the Sports Regulatory Board of India, with the authority to grant recognition and allocate funding to National Sports Federations (NSFs) based on their adherence to provisions related to good governance. It has been debated for a long and kept pending because of opposition by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which has termed its provisions as interference by the government in the functioning of the NSFs, which contravenes provisions of the Olympic Charter. The draft National Sports Governance Bill 2024 proposes the setting up of Ethics Commissions and Dispute Resolution Commissions to ensure transparency in governance. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had started the consultation process on the National Sports Governance Bill, 2024 by putting it in the public domain in October 2024, seeking suggestions/comments on its provisions. The bill also proposes setting up some regulations for the National Olympic Committee, which is the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). It says that the NOC shall comply with all requirements applicable to it under this Bill and such additional eligibility criteria for recognition as may be prescribed by the Central Government under this Bill shall ensure that its constitution incorporates and complies with all the requirements specified in this Bill as applicable to it and any rules prescribed by the Central Government in relation thereto from time to time. The IOA has objected to such provisions, claiming that its constitution will only adhere to provisions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Charter. Many NSFs, too, have opposed some provisions of this bill as they go against the regulations of the International Sports Federations (IFs).
