India proposes 10-year jail, up to Rs 5 lakh fine for doping traffickers

Key points

• New Delhi, May 21 The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has placed the proposed amendments to India’s anti-doping legal framework in the public domain for consultation.
• (photo/ IANS) New Delhi: The Indian govt has proposed stringent penal provisions under amendments to the Anti-Doping Act, 2022, including jail terms ranging from five to 10 years and fines of up to Rs five lakh for those involved in supplying, administering or trafficking banned substances to athletes.The proposed amendments, placed in the public domain by the sports ministry for stakeholder consultation, mark a major departure from the govt’s earlier approach that focused primarily on penalising athletes through suspensions and bans rather than criminal prosecution.
• The deadline for submitting public comments and suggestions is June 18.Importantly, athletes not found involved in the proposed criminal offences like trafficking or organised syndicate will not be criminalised merely for anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) or positive tests....