National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021

In news– Parliament has passed the National Anti-Doping Bill, 2021 recently.

Key features of the bill-

The bill provides for planning, implementing, and monitoring anti-doping activities as well as investigating anti-doping rule violations.
It seeks to create a statutory framework for the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and National Dope testing laboratory.
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.
The legislation prohibits athletes, athlete support personnel, and other persons from engaging in doping in sports.
The violation of anti-doping rules may result in disqualification of results including forfeiture of medals, points, and prizes, ineligibility to participate in a competition or event for a prescribed period, and financial sanctions.
The Bill proposes to establish the National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports with a view to make recommendations to the government on anti-doping regulations and compliance with international commitments on anti-doping.
The proposed board will oversee the activities of NADA and issue directions to it.

National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)-

- NADA is the national organisation responsible for promoting, coordinating, and monitoring the doping control program in sports in all its forms in India.
- NADA works towards a vision of ‘dope free’ sport in India.
- NADA deals with adopting and implementing anti-doping rules and policies which conform with the World Anti-Doping Agency, cooperates with other anti-doping organisations and promotes anti-doping research and education.

NADA is formed by the Union Government under the Societies Registration Act.

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

NADA’s Functions-

Adopting and implementing anti-doping rules and policies which conform with the World Anti- Doping Code
Cooperating with other sports related organizations and other anti-doping organizations
Encouraging reciprocal testing between National Anti-Doping Organizations, and
Promoting anti-doping research & education.
NADA is responsible for implementing an effective number of in-competition and out-of-competition tests on the athletes in its registered testing pool.
This includes international and national level athletes being tested by NADA.
The NADA develops a test distribution plan and allocates the number of samples for each sport or discipline required for effective deterrence.
The plan includes out-of-competition testing, in- competition testing, and may include blood as well as urine collection.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-

It is a non-profit foundation initiated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to promote, coordinate, and monitor the fight against drugs in sports.

- It was set up on 10 November 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of the “Declaration of Lausanne“, to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against drugs in sports.

Since 2002, the organization’s headquarters have been located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

WADA is responsible for the World Anti-Doping Code, adopted by more than 650 sports organizations, including international sports federations, national anti-doping organizations, the IOC, and the International Paralympic Committee.
Initially funded by the IOC, WADA receives half of its budgetary requirements from them, with the other half coming from various national governments.
Its governing bodies are also composed in equal parts by representatives from the sporting movement (including athletes) and governments of the world.
The highest decision-making authority is the 38-member foundation board, which is composed equally of IOC representatives and representatives of national governments.