New Delhi: The Indian sports fraternity has welcomed the passage of the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, hailing the reforms as a landmark step towards transparency, accountability, and athlete welfare.
The Bills were passed by both Houses of Parliament on August 12, 2025.
From Olympic champions to sports administrators, the sentiment was unanimous — this is a transformative moment for Indian sports.
Athletes hail governance reforms
Badminton ace Lakshya Sen called the legislation a “historic moment for Indian sports”, noting that the Sports Bill 2025 “sets new standards in governance, transparency & athlete welfare.” He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making “fairness & welfare the pillars of sports.”
Para-javelin star Sumit Antil praised the introduction of structural mechanisms like the National Sports Election Panel, Code of Conduct, Safe Sports Policy, and Grievance Redressal Mechanism. “These will ensure that the voices of all stakeholders are heard and respected,” he said.
Para-badminton champion Sukant Kadam highlighted the Bill’s alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision for “professional, audited, and rule-bound National Sports Federations (NSFs), ensuring decisions are made for sport, not politics.”
Sports bodies underline dispute resolution
All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey commended Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya for introducing the Bill after four decades. He emphasised its two major benefits: the creation of a National Sports Board to regulate and recognise sports bodies, and the establishment of a Sports Tribunal to handle litigations, allowing funds to be redirected towards sports development. “This legislation will ensure that our athletes are clean, especially when the country is about to host a major international game,” he added.
Indian Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal described the Bill as a “much-needed reform”, noting that prolonged disputes in courts have hindered sports promotion. “This Bill will be a game-changer in terms of sports promotion and sports development,” he said.
Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist Avani Lekhara welcomed the Safe Sport Policy provision, which ensures athlete protection, grievance redressal, and safeguards against harassment — especially for women, divyang, and minors. She thanked PM Modi for “turning inclusivity into action.”
On the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, Rohit Rajpal, in his capacity as Chairman of the IOA Anti-Doping Committee, said: “It will be a game-changer for sports in India, resolving disputes faster and bringing clarity for athletes and sports administration alike. We must collaborate with associations to foster greater inclusivity. Having served in NADA, I bring some understanding of anti-doping governance. We look forward to working with WADA, and we also need athletes to raise their level of awareness.”
Biggest sports reform since Independence
Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya described the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 as “the single biggest reform in the sports sector since Independence”, asserting that the legislation will protect athletes’ interests and elevate India’s sports governance to global standards.
With the passage of these landmark Bills, the government and sports community have signalled a united commitment to fair play, inclusivity, and institutional accountability — laying the groundwork for a stronger and cleaner sporting ecosystem in India.
