Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi:<\/b> India firmly believes that sporting excellence must always be accompanied by integrity, Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya told the COP10 Bureau and a panel of the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Dr. Mandaviya chaired the third formal meeting of the COP10 Bureau and the fourth formal meeting of the Fund\u2019s Approval Committee for 2026\u201327 under the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport in New Delhi on Tuesday and assured the participants of India\u2019s commitment to clean sport.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cEvery athlete deserves a fair opportunity to compete, with success determined by talent, preparation and hard work, and not by prohibited substances or methods. Hon\u2019ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has regularly emphasised clean sport and the need to practice zero tolerance towards the menace of doping,\u201d said Dr. Mandaviya.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Union Sports Minister highlighted the strengthening of India\u2019s anti-doping framework through the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022, and its 2025 Amendment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIndia has strengthened its legal and institutional framework through the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022, and its 2025 Amendment, both of which came into force in July 2026,\u201d said Dr. Mandaviya. \u201cWe will also bring another amendment in the next session of our parliament, which aims to introduce criminal provisions to deal with violations even more effectively, including those by coaches and supply chain stakeholders.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Union Sports Minister further highlighted the steps India has already taken to tackle doping and inform its athletes about banned substances.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cDuring 2025-26, the National Anti-Doping Agency of India conducted over 7,000 tests and more than 350 education and awareness sessions, reaching 27,000 participants, while focusing on risk-based testing and intelligence-led investigations,\u201d said Dr. Mandaviya. \"The Know Your Medicine mobile application has recorded over half a million searches, supporting informed decisions about medicines.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the forthcoming signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Education, and UNESCO to introduce the Sport Values in Every Classroom Toolkit in India. The initiative aims to bring sporting values, ethics and integrity to classrooms and reach millions of young minds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The meeting aimed to advance global collaboration in the fight against doping and strengthen the Convention\u2019s implementation. Discussions focused on a framework document outlining the roles and responsibilities of public authorities in the global anti-doping ecosystem, as well as strengthening anti-doping education capacity and academic research through engagement with States Parties via the National Compliance Platform.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The agenda also covered resource mobilisation, the Fund\u2019s Operational Strategy for 2026-2031, compliance and capacity-building to support a sustainable global anti-doping system.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The inaugural session was attended by Farid Gayibov, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chairperson of the COP10 Bureau; Luke McCann, Chairperson of the Approval Committee of the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport; Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), Government of India and Vice-Chairperson of the COP10 Bureau; Gustavo Merino, Director for Social Policies and Inclusion, UNESCO; and members of the COP10 Bureau and the Fund Approval Committee from Zambia, the Kingdom of Spain and the Russian Federation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The meeting aimed to advance global collaboration in the fight against doping and strengthen the Convention\u2019s implementation. Discussions focused on a framework document outlining the roles and responsibilities of public authorities in the global anti-doping ecosystem, as well as strengthening anti-doping education capacity and academic research through engagement with States Parties via the National Compliance Platform.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The inaugural session was attended by Farid Gayibov, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chairperson of the COP10 Bureau; Luke McCann, Chairperson of the Approval Committee of the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport; Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), Government of India and Vice-Chairperson of the COP10 Bureau; Gustavo Merino, Director for Social Policies and Inclusion, UNESCO; and members of the COP10 Bureau and the Fund Approval Committee from Zambia, the Kingdom of Spain and the Russian Federation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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