Context:
Parliament has passed the National Sports Governance Bill and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, marking a landmark moment in India’s sports administration. Both bills now await the President’s assent to become law.
National Sports Governance Bill
- National Sports Bodies (NSBs):
- National Olympic Committee (NOC): The only official body for Olympic sports in India
- National Paralympic Committee (NPC): The sole authority for Paralympic sports
- Other Bodies: National Sports Federations (NSF) and Regional Sports Federations (RSF)
- National Sports Board (NSB):
- Can recognize any sports organization as a National Sports Body
- Chairperson and members appointed by the Central Government
- National Sports Tribunal:
- Handles sports-related disputes quickly
- Civil courts cannot interfere in cases under the Tribunal
- Oversight of Elections:
- Central government to set up a panel of electoral officers to supervise elections of national sports bodies
- Central Government Powers:
- May exempt a national body or its affiliates from any part of the Bill if it is necessary to promote the sport
National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- Appeal Panel:
- Central government can set up an Appeal Panel to hear appeals against decisions of the Disciplinary Panel
- Operational Independence:
- Both the Appeal Panel and National Anti-Doping Agency will have more autonomy in decision-making
- Alignment with International Standards:
- Provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code will now have the force of law in India
