Govt sets up independent National Dope Test Laboratory

In a bid to intensifying anti-doping mechanism and to bring India in the trustworthy nation of the anti doping map, Government of India on Sunday has decided to bifurcate National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) in to two separate independent bodies: NADA and National Dope Test Laboratory (NDTL).

Government has also decided to reconstitute NADA to make it more proficient by including more professionals in its general body and governing body.

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Besides, for better supervision, it has established a new body- an executive body - comprising 6 members including 3 nominated.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has also set up a two-tier body for NDTL: NDTL Society and NDTL Governing body – for better recognition of India in world map as a credible anti-doping country.

MYAS, on August 03, has forked NADA and refurbished its general body and governing body by including more professionals instead of officials. Now, there would be 17 members in general body, 9 in governing body and 6 in executive body in NADA in the newly organised agency.

In NADA society, the numbers of officials have been reduced to 6 and in their place additional two medical experts and one representative from National Sports Federations (NSFs) have been appointed. Earlier, there were 9 officials, 4 representatives from Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and NSFs, two sportspersons, one jurist and one scientist in NADA Society.

The newly added medical expert / Scientist in the general body are: Director General, Health Services, Ministry of Health (Ex-Officio member) and Prof. P. Rama Rao, Director, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) (Nominated Member -2). Nawab Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (former Test Player) and Smt. Shiny Wilson (former sprinter) would be appointed as two eminent sports persons for 2 years tenure in the general body.

Suresh Kalmadi, President of Indian Olympic Association would continue with the designation of nominated member as a representative of Indian Olympic Committee.

Randhir Singh, Secretary General, IOA, K.P. Singh Deo, President, Emeritus, Rowing Federation of India, G.S. Mander, President, Wrestling Federation of India, Anil Khanna, Secretary General, All India Tennis Association will be four representative from National Sports Federations and H S Phoolka will be one eminent jurist in general body of NADA society.

In governing body, government has inducted three additional medical experts/ scientists instead of earlier one that include two newly members are: Director General (Health Services) and Prof. P. Rama Rao, Director, NIPER. Chairman Medical Commission of IOA, Dr. Manmohan Singh would continue the medical expert position.

In Executive body, out of six members, there will be two would medical experts and one legal expert.

NADA will work as an independent body and will be liable for imposing anti doping code and providing disciplinary action against drug abuse and appellate forum for disputes, while its routine activities like test planning, result management and education to promote clean sport will remain as per earlier plans.

On the other hand, in NDTL, MYAS has comprises 17 members in its society consisting of 7 medical/legal/Scientist experts, 5 officials, 1 sportsperson and 4 representatives from IOA and NSFs, while in governing body MYAS has appointed 12 members constituting seven medical/legal/scientist, 1 representative of IOA and four officials.

Ms. Charu Wali has been appointed as an eminent jurist, while in medical experts/ Scientists Prof. S.D. Seth, Professor, Chair Clinic Pharmacology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Prof. Y.K. Gupta, Professor & Head of Department Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi and Chief, National Poisons Information Centre, AIIMS, Prof. N K Ganguly, former Director General, ICMR, Biotech Fellow, National Institute of Immunology, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Chairman, Medical Commission of IOA, Director General Health Services , Ministry of Health and Scientific Director, NDTL.

Moreover, Dr. M P Ganesh would be one eminent sportsperson while Col. P.K. Murlidharan Raja, Hony. Secretary, Indian Amateur Boxing Federation, Dr. Lalit K. Bhanot, Secretary, Amateur Athletic Federation of India and Baljit Singh Sethi, Secretary, National Rifle Association of India have been appointed as three representatives from National Sports Federations for a 2-year term.

The World Anti-Doping Agency will conduct the proficiency test of NDTL and after completing the test, it will accredit permanently as credible anti-doping agency in September 2008.

The rising competition in the sports and the efforts of beating it up by hook or by crook, sports persons are adopting the abandoned performance enhancing drugs. This competitive drive ‘to win’ and ‘to win at any cost’ later becomes the cause of shame for the relevant country after the athlete is found ‘Positive’ for the abandoned drugs.