Parliament Passes National Sports Governance Bill and Anti-Doping Amendment

The Indian Parliament has approved the National Sports Governance Bill, marking a significant step in the country's sports administration. This bill introduces a national board to regulate sports and establishes a mechanism for resolving disputes.

Alongside, the National Anti-Doping Amendment Bill, which strengthens the autonomy of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) as per World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) requirements, has also been passed. Both bills now await presidential approval to become law.

Parliamentary Debate and Opposition

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, presented the bills in the Rajya Sabha at 3 PM. However, opposition protests erupted over electoral roll revisions in Bihar. The Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, led a walkout demanding discussion on this issue. Despite this, Mandaviya urged the Rajya Sabha to make India the 21st country with a sports law.

During discussions, BJD MP Subhashish Khuntia expressed concerns about centralising sports governance. He noted a lack of clarity on athlete development at district and block levels. Mandaviya responded by stating that the government aims to facilitate rather than control sports governance. "In this bill, we are bringing transparency, not control, not interference," he asserted.

Support from Sports Leaders

Prominent figures like former All India Football Federation President Praful Patel and Indian Olympic Association President P T Usha supported the bill. Patel remarked, "It was a long-standing legislation that was required." He emphasised its importance for India's bid to host the 2036 Olympics and achieving success beyond cricket. Usha echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the bill promotes transparency and accountability.

Mandaviya described it as a major reform in sports since independence. A key feature is the National Sports Board (NSB), which will enforce accountability. The NSB can de-recognise national bodies failing to hold elections or committing election irregularities. It will also act against misuse of public funds but must consult global bodies before taking action.

Key Features of the Bill

The bill proposes a National Sports Tribunal with civil court powers to resolve disputes involving federations and athletes. Its decisions can only be challenged in the Supreme Court. The bill allows administrators aged 70-75 to contest elections if international statutes permit it, deviating from the previous age cap of 70.

All recognised national sports bodies will fall under the Right to Information (RTI) Act's scope. However, amendments ensure RTI applies only to bodies reliant on government support, giving some relief to entities like BCCI that oppose this due to their financial independence.

Another amendment reduces the mandatory tenure for eligibility in NSF elections from two terms to one. This change enables figures like IOA President P T Usha to seek re-election more easily.

Amendments to Anti-Doping Bill

The National Anti-Doping Amendment Bill-2025 addresses WADA's concerns about government interference in NADA's operations. Initially passed in 2022 but delayed due to WADA's objections, it proposed a National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports with oversight powers over NADA. WADA rejected this as interference in an autonomous body.

In response, the amended bill retains the board but removes its oversight powers over NADA and its advisory role. This ensures NADA's operational independence while aligning with WADA's standards.

The passage of these bills signifies a transformative phase for Indian sports governance and anti-doping measures. They aim to enhance transparency and accountability while respecting international standards and autonomy requirements.

With inputs from PTI