Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur, introduced “Anti-Doping Bill” on December 17, 2021 in Lok Sabha.

Key Points of the bill

• The bill seeks to provide statutory framework for the functioning of National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
• Bill empowers NADA to conduct raids and strengthen measures of tackling drug abuse in Indian
• It will also provide statutory framework for the operation National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) and other dope testing laboratories as well.
• It also provides for creation of a National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports in order to strengthen anti-doping activities in sport.

Power to NADA

• The bill seeks to provide NADA with the powers of investigation, powers of inspection, sample collection and sharing & free flow of information, levying sanctions for Anti-Doping Rule Violations and disciplinary procedures to be adopted.
• Clause 19 of the bill provides NADA the power of “entry, search and seizure” by any person authorised by it, in order to determine if any anti-doping rule violation has been committed.
• However, the procedure to be adopted has to be in accordance with the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.