Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, granting greater operational independence to the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in line with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards. The bill removes the National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports’ authority over NADA’s appeals panel, addressing WADA’s concerns about government interference in the original 2022 act.

The amended bill ensures NADA’s autonomy in operations, investigations, and enforcement, stating that its Director General and staff will operate independently from national and international sports bodies, as well as government departments. This overhaul aims to prevent a potential WADA suspension, which could have derecognized India’s anti-doping lab and disrupted global compliance.

A sports ministry source emphasized the necessity of the amendments, noting that implementing the 2022 act would have risked a WADA ban. The bill strengthens NADA’s decision-making freedom, aligning India’s anti-doping framework with international standards to safeguard its standing in global sports.

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