Indian Sports Community Celebrates Passage Of National Sports Governance Bill And Anti-Doping Amendment Bill 2025
The Indian sports fraternity has warmly welcomed the passage of the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025 by Parliament on August 12. Athletes, coaches, and sports administrators have hailed these landmark legislations as transformative reforms aimed at enhancing governance, transparency, and athlete welfare in Indian sports.
Badminton star Lakshya Sen expressed his enthusiasm on social media platform X, describing the passage of the Sports Bill as a historic moment. He praised the legislation for setting new standards in governance, transparency, and athlete welfare, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritizing fairness and welfare in sports.
Para-javelin champion Sumit Antil echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the bill’s provisions for transparency and fairness in sports administration. He emphasized the importance of the National Sports Election Panel, Code of Conduct, Safe Sports Policy, and Grievance Redressal Mechanism, which he believes will ensure the voices of all stakeholders are heard and respected.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, described the National Sports Governance Bill as the most significant reform in the sports sector since India’s independence. The legislation is seen as a step toward professionalizing and streamlining sports administration in the country.
Indian para-badminton athlete Sukant Kadam praised the bill for bringing Prime Minister Modi’s vision of professional, audited, and rule-bound National Sports Federations (NSFs) to life. He noted that the reforms would ensure decisions are made in the interest of sports, free from political influence.
Kalyan Chaubey, President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), congratulated Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for introducing the bill after four decades. He highlighted two key aspects: the establishment of the National Sports Board, which will have the authority to grant or cancel the registration of sports organizations, and the creation of a Sports Tribunal to address the hundreds of pending litigations in courts. Chaubey noted that resolving these disputes would save resources that can now be redirected toward sports development. He also emphasized that the legislation would ensure Indian athletes remain clean, particularly as the country prepares to host major international events.
Indian Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal described the reforms as long overdue, addressing critical gaps in dispute resolution that have led to delays due to ongoing court cases. He expressed confidence that the bill would be a game-changer for sports promotion and development in India.
A key feature of the National Sports Governance Bill is the Safe Sport Policy, which mandates athlete protection frameworks, grievance redressal mechanisms, and safeguards against harassment, particularly for women, differently-abled individuals, and minors. Paralympic medalist Avani Lekhara, who has secured three medals across two Paralympic editions, praised the bill for ensuring safety, dignity, and progress for women and para-athletes. She thanked Prime Minister Modi for translating inclusivity into action through these reforms.
Rohit Rajpal, who also serves as Chairman of the Indian Olympic Association’s Anti-Doping Committee, commented on the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, calling it a transformative step for resolving disputes quickly and providing clarity for athletes and administrators. Drawing from his experience with the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), Rajpal emphasized the need for collaboration with sports associations to promote inclusivity and for athletes to increase their awareness of anti-doping regulations. He expressed readiness to work with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to strengthen India’s anti-doping framework.
