Recommendations on the Proposed Amendment to the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022

Chapter VIA (Sections 25A–25I) | Public Consultation Submission | Deadline: June 18, 2026

Submit to: ab@sports.gov.in and info.nada@nic.in | Portal: yas.nic.in/en/sports/amendment-national-anti-doping-act-2022

Photo by Andrey Metelev on Unsplash

The proposed Chapter VIA is a necessary step to address India’s position as the country with the highest anti-doping rule violations globally (222 in 2023; AIU Category A as of April 2026). The following recommendations do not oppose the Amendment’s intent — they seek to make it proportionate, implementable, and legally durable.

A. Section-Specific Recommendations

Chapter VIA — Section-wise recommendations

B. Cross-Cutting Recommendations (Beyond Chapter VIA)

1. Athlete Support Infrastructure (amend Section 16, NAD Act 2022)

• Mandate NADA to operate a 24x7 substance-verification helpline (4-hour response during competition periods).

• Appoint one Anti-Doping Education Officer per funded National Sports Federation.

• Establish a Legal Aid Fund for athletes with household income below Rs. 5 lakh per annum facing Chapter VIA proceedings.

2. Gender-Responsive Provisions

• Commission a mandatory gender-disaggregated impact assessment before Chapter VIA comes into force.

• Designate a Women Athlete Welfare Officer within NADA; amend Sec. 25C to specify expedited TUE consideration for female-specific medical conditions.

• All investigation and interview processes involving female athletes must be conducted in the presence of a designated female officer.

3. Supplement Regulation (coordinate with FSSAI and MoHFW)

• Require pre-market WADA Prohibited List screening for all sports nutrition supplements before commercial launch in India.

• Mandate WADA compliance certification or disclaimer on all sports supplement packaging sold in India.

• Establish a cross-ministry task force (MoYAS + MoHFW + FSSAI + NADA) within 90 days of Chapter VIA notification.

4. Phased Implementation

• Months 0–6: Officer training, supplement database, athlete education campaign — before any criminal powers activated.

• Months 6–12: Criminal provisions operative for trafficking and organised crime (Sec. 25B(1) & 25B(3)) only.

• Month 12 onward: Full operationalisation with annual enforcement reporting to Parliament via Ministry Annual Report.

References

1. https://yas.gov.in/sites/default/files/Public-Notice_0.pdf
2. https://yas.gov.in/en/sports/public-notice-antidoping
3. https://yas.nic.in/en/sports/amendment-national-anti-doping-act-2022