Recently, the Lok Sabha passed the National anti-doping bill 2021 on July 27th 2022. This bill prohibits an athlete from consuming any drug in sports. To understand more about the anti-doping bill, we need to understand the meaning of doping in sports
What does doping in sports mean?
Doping is a process where athletes consume illegal substances to enhance their performance in sports. There are many ways of doping in sports. But consuming drugs is the most common way of doping. Alcoholizing any illegal substance by an athlete is considered a form of cheating in sports.
The main reason for doping is to improve their performance in sports. According to the National Anti-Doping Agency, athletes consume anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, erythropoietin, beta-blockers, stimulants, diuretics, and many more for better performance.
Features of the National Anti-Doping Bill 2021:
- Prohibition of doping
National anti-doping bill 2021 prohibits any doping in an athlete and the prohibition of doping in coach, trainers and support person of the player. If any person takes drugs due to medical complications, they must apply to the national anti-doping agency for the allowance.
- Consequences of violations
If any anti-doping rule gets violated by the athlete or the athlete’s support personnel, it may disqualify a player. Ineligibility to participate in the competitive financial sections or any other consequence for the violation as per the national anti-doping disciplinary panel.
- Establishment of a board to stop doping in sports
According to the bill, a national board will be established for anti-doping in sports. The board will also recommend some anti-doping regulations while dealing with the cases. This board will also keep an eye on the National Anti-Doping Agency’s (NADA) activities and will guide it.
Introduction to the panel:
The National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports will set up a national anti-doping disciplinary panel to determine the consequences of any violation of NADA rules. This panel will consist of a chairperson and four other vice chairpersons. Along with that, ten other members who will be medical experts will be constituted.
Importance of the National Anti-Doping Bill 2021:
- Transparency in the game
Implementing the rules and regulations of the national anti-doping bill in 2021 will create an unbiased and independent situation. The game will be free from any involvement of ill practices. There will be transparency in the game, as the game will be free and fair.
- Establishment of committees and bills
Under the bill, there will be an appropriate committee and panels. The National Anti-Doping Agency and the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) are these committees and panels. These agencies will be responsible for the justice of the game.
- Justice for athletes
The agency’s responsibility is to organise the free and fair game. Any player caught violating the rules and regulations will be penalised and punished, and the opponent, who is considered innocent, will be provided with justice.
- Enhanced cooperation with the agencies
Due to this bill, relations between India’s agencies will have enhanced cooperation nationally and internationally. These relations and cooperation will result at the end of the concept of doping.
A look at the issues regarding the bill
With some features, there are some issues with the bill. As per the definition of the World anti-doping agency (WADA), the National anti-doping agency should work in the public interest. But on the other hand, to ensure an unbiased and effective body which makes just and quick decisions has to be independent. In the bill, the position of the national anti-doping agency director general is unclear, and the qualification of the director general has not been decided yet.
