Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Tuesday that upcoming amendments to the National Anti-Doping Act will introduce strict criminal provisions to penalise the trafficking and distribution of prohibited substances to athletes. The proposed legislation, aimed at strengthening the country’s regulatory framework, is scheduled to be presented during the next session of Parliament, which is widely expected to commence in the final week of November.
Speaking after chairing two key meetings under the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport, Mandaviya emphasised that sporting excellence must always go hand in hand with complete integrity. He stated that every competitor deserves an absolutely fair opportunity where success is driven purely by innate talent, rigorous preparation and dedicated hard work rather than prohibited chemical enhancements or illicit methods.
Legislative Framework and Penalties
- Proposed Jail Terms: Suppliers, including medical practitioners who knowingly prescribe banned performance-enhancing drugs to athletes, could face imprisonment extending up to five years.
- Financial Penalties: The draft legislation also includes provisions for heavy fines reaching up to Rs 2 lakh, or potentially a combination of both imprisonment and financial penalties.
- Testing Volumes: The National Anti-Doping Agency conducted over 7,000 tests during the 2025-26 period alongside more than 350 dedicated education and awareness sessions.
- Digital Initiatives: The official ‘Know Your Medicine’ mobile application has successfully recorded over half a million searches to assist athletes in making informed choices.
Context and Global Commitment
Currently, domestic sports legislation lacks penal provisions to directly target the external supply chain of banned substances, restricting disciplinary measures mostly to athletic bans that can last up to a lifetime depending on the severity of the violation. By criminalising the distribution network, the government intends to hold enablers such as corrupt coaches, rogue medical practitioners and shady suppliers legally accountable for compromising clean sport.
The announcement also arrives at a critical juncture as global sports authorities increasingly scrutinize compliance metrics. Indian sports administrators continue to implement robust risk-based testing frameworks and intelligence-led investigations to curb illegal substances. The international convention meetings in the capital focused heavily on reinforcing global collaboration, enhancing compliance strategies, and operationalizing resource mobilization for sustainable anti-doping programs through the coming years.
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