National Anti-Doping Bill

Why in news?

• The Parliament recently passed the National Anti-Doping Bill

About National Anti-Doping Bill:

• 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.
• 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:

• Prohibition of doping:
  • The Bill prohibits athletes, athlete support personnel and other persons from engaging in doping in sports.
• Consequences of violations:
  • 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.
• Changes in National Anti-Doping Agency:
  • 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 agency.
  • It will be headed by a Director General appointed by the central government.
• Data related to athletes and doping:
  • The Agency will also have the power to collect certain personal data of athletes such as
    • Sex or gender, medical history, whereabouts 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).
• Dope Testing Laboratories:
  • The existing National Dope Testing Laboratory will be deemed to be the principal dope testing laboratory.
  • The central government may establish more National Dope Testing Laboratories.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA):

• Set up in 1999 under the International Olympic Committee.
• WADA is recognised by the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport (2005).
• WADA’s primary role is to develop, harmonise, and coordinate anti-doping regulations across all sports and countries.
• It does so by ensuring proper implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA Code) and its standards, conducting investigations into doping incidents, conducting research on doping, and educating sportspersons and related personnel on anti-doping regulations.
• WADA publishes the list of prohibited substances at least once a year and distributes it to all the signatories.
• Use of prohibited substances is exempted if needed for therapeutic use, as specified.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding ‘National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)’:

1. It is a statutory agency

2. NADA includes representatives and scientists from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer