Indian sports community praises Prime Minister Modi, acclaiming the approval of the Sports Governance and National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025

India's Sports Governance Undergoes Transformative Overhaul with Passage of Two Bills

The Indian sports landscape is undergoing a significant transformation following the passage of the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025 by the Indian Parliament on August 12, 2025.

These comprehensive legislations aim to regulate and reform the functioning of national sports bodies across India, ensuring transparency, accountability, and athlete welfare. The National Sports Governance Bill establishes recognized national sports bodies such as the National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, and various National and Regional Sports Federations, aligning them with international sports federations.

Rohit Rajpal, Indian Davis Cup captain, has hailed the National Sports Governance Bill as a much-needed reform, particularly in dispute resolution. Key provisions include mandatory committees for governance, codes of ethics, grievance redressal mechanisms, election monitoring via a National Sports Election Panel, and a National Sports Tribunal headed by a senior judge to adjudicate sports-related disputes. The Bill also establishes a National Sports Board (NSB) that acts as an oversight "watchdog" with powers to recognize or derecognize sports federations, ensuring their compliance with governance standards.

The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, passed alongside the Governance Bill, aims to strengthen the anti-doping framework in Indian sports, ensuring fair play and protection of athletes from doping violations. It complements the Governance Bill by safeguarding athlete interests in competition and enhancing fairness in sports administration.

The passage of these bills has been widely welcomed and hailed as landmark reforms by athletes, coaches, and sports administrators across India. Prominent athletes like badminton star Lakshya Sen and para-javelin champion Sumit Antil have praised the bills on social media, calling the passage a historic moment that sets new standards in governance, transparency, and athlete welfare.

Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya described the National Sports Governance Bill as the most significant reform since India’s independence, a crucial step toward professionalizing sports administration and building a robust ecosystem as India eyes hosting the Olympics.

The bills also include a Safe Sport Policy, which mandates the adoption of athlete protection frameworks, grievance redressal mechanisms, and safeguards against harassment, especially for women, divyang, and minors. Avani Lekhara, a Paralympic medalist, expressed gratitude for the passage of the Sports Bill 2025, stating it ensures safety, dignity, and progress for women and para-athletes.

The legislation is expected to address hundreds of litigations pending in courts, saving unnecessary expenditure that can now be used to further the development of sports. Indian para-Badminton athlete, Sukant Kadam, stated that the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 brings Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi's vision of professional, audited, and rule-bound National Sports Federations (NSFs) to life.

The sports community in India has lauded the passage of these bills, seeing it as a long-overdue reform to bring good governance and protect athlete interests. Rohit Rajpal, as Chairman of the IOA Anti-Doping Committee, expressed his views on the Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, stating it will resolve disputes faster and bring clarity for athletes and sports administration. He also emphasized the need for collaboration with associations to foster greater inclusivity in anti-doping governance.

In conclusion, these bills represent a transformative overhaul of India's sports governance framework, widely regarded as positive and overdue by the Indian sports fraternity. They are expected to improve transparency, athlete protection, and governance efficiency across Indian sports federations.