Anti-Doping Law: India to Add Criminal Provisions, Says Mandaviya
Why in the news
On 27 October 2026, Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said India will amend its anti-doping law again to add criminal provisions, while chairing UNESCO anti-doping meetings in New Delhi.
Key facts
- Meetings: the third formal meeting of the COP10 Bureau and the fourth formal meeting of the Fund Approval Committee for 2026-27, both under the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport.
- Criminal provisions: a fresh amendment is planned for the next session of Parliament to tackle violations involving coaches and supply-chain stakeholders.
- Law in force: the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 and its 2025 Amendment became effective in July 2026.
- NADA in 2025-26: more than 7,000 tests, over 350 education and awareness sessions reaching about 27,000 participants.
- Know Your Medicine app: more than half a million searches.
- Planned MoU: between the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry, the Education Ministry and UNESCO to bring the Sport Values in Every Classroom Toolkit to India.
- India’s role: it represents Group IV and holds the Vice-Chair of the COP10 Bureau through Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao.
About the COP10 Bureau
The Bureau steers work under the UNESCO convention between Conferences of Parties. It is chaired by Farid Gayibov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports. The agenda included a framework on roles of public authorities in anti-doping, education and research, resource mobilisation and the Fund’s Operational Strategy for 2026-2031.
Exam angle
- National Anti-Doping Act was enacted in 2022 and amended in 2025; both in force from July 2026.
- Criminal liability is to extend to coaches and supply-chain actors, not just athletes.
- NADA stands for National Anti-Doping Agency.