Anti-doping regulations on sportspersons

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has said that Anti Doping Rules 2010 of National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) are in place in India to regulate anti-doping activities of sportspersons in the country. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today he said, the regulations of National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) are in accordance with World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Code 2009 which came into operation with effect from 1st January, 2010. The Minister said, the Government and National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) are working towards “Dope Free” Sports in the country in co-ordination with stakeholders to rid sports of this menace and create a clean and healthy environment for sports in India. NADA is taking stringent measures against doping in sports by conducting dope tests during in-competition and out-of-competition on sportspersons. The Government has repeatedly announced zero tolerance for violators of the anti doping regulations. He said, NADA has conducted outreach programs at various centres and over 10,000 sports persons, including supporting staff attended such programs. The technical officials of NADA are regularly visiting Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centres and other places (wherever training camps are held) and educating the athletes on doping in sports and harmful side effects of the dope substances by conducting lectures/seminars/workshops etc. on regular basis with the help of dope control hand books printed in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali and Punjabi. Shri Sonowal said, NADA has constituted a panel of experts comprising of medical doctors, legal members and eminent sports-persons to advise on Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign. The expert group will formulate anti-doping education plan in line with the objectives of the Campaign. The group will develop the education-cum-awareness materials for various stakeholders in sports. The experts will customize all relevant awareness materials developed by World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) to meet Indian clientele and to develop education material through print and electronic media. He said, to help the competing athletes, need-based awareness-cum-education materials will be prepared in association with National Sports Federations. In addition, NADA has proposed to conduct 50 anti-doping awareness workshops/seminars for all stakeholders in current financial year. Out of this, 13 workshops are already conducted till date.