National dope control body splits into two

The Sports Ministry has bifurcated the National Anti Doping Agency into two independent bodies...

The Sports Ministry has bifurcated the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) into two independent bodies — NADA and the NDTL (National Dope Test Laboratory). This was one of the pre-requisites under the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines before granting accreditation.

The measure is expected to infuse a professional approach apart from enhancing the credibility of anti-doping mechanism in the country. The NADA has now become the punishment-enforcing agency while the laboratory’s job would only be to test the samples. In the past, both jobs were being done by the same agency, posing a lot of problems with athletes going to court and questioning the authenticity of tests undertaken by non-accredited SAI labs. The ministry has also reconstituted the general body and the Governing Body of the NADA with the induction of more medical experts and an executive board.

Less officials

The NADA Society used to comprise nine officials — four from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and National Sports Federations (NSFs), two sportspersons, one jurist and one scientist. The number of officials has now been reduced to six with two medical experts and a third representative from NSFs been inducted. The two medical experts are Director General (Health Services) from the Ministry of Health and Prof. P Rama Rao, Director at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER).

Similarly, the reconstituted governing body has been strengthened with three medical experts and scientists as against a lone member earlier. Both the Director General of Health Services and Rama Rao will be part of the governing body also. The new executive board will have six members, two of them being medical experts, and one legal expert. The NADA will be responsible for implementing anti-doping policy and taking disciplinary action against drug abuse and handling disputes arising out at appellate forum. The routine activities of the NADA will include test planning, result management and education to promote clean sport.