India's Commitment to Clean Sports Highlighted in COP10 Bureau Meeting
Union Minister Leads Anti-Doping Discussions
New Delhi, October 27: The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, presided over the third official meeting of the COP10 Bureau and the fourth meeting of the Fund's Approval Committee for the 2026-27 period, held in New Delhi under the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport.
As stated in a press release from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mandaviya reaffirmed India's dedication to maintaining integrity in sports.
He remarked, “India strongly believes that achieving excellence in sports must go hand in hand with integrity. Every athlete should have a fair chance to compete, with success based on talent, preparation, and hard work, rather than on banned substances or methods. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently stressed the importance of clean sports and the necessity for a zero-tolerance policy against doping.”
The Minister emphasized the enhancement of India's anti-doping framework through the National Anti-Doping Act of 2022 and its subsequent amendment in 2025.
“India has fortified its legal and institutional framework with the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022, and its 2025 Amendment, both effective from July 2026,” Dr. Mandaviya stated. “We plan to introduce another amendment in the upcoming parliamentary session aimed at implementing criminal provisions to address violations more effectively, including those involving coaches and supply chain participants,” he added.
Dr. Mandaviya also pointed out the proactive measures India has taken to combat doping and educate athletes about prohibited substances.
“In the 2025-26 period, the National Anti-Doping Agency of India conducted over 7,000 tests and organized more than 350 educational sessions, reaching 27,000 individuals while emphasizing risk-based testing and intelligence-led investigations,” Dr. Mandaviya noted. “The Know Your Medicine mobile app has seen over half a million searches, aiding athletes in making informed choices regarding medications,” he mentioned.
Mandaviya announced the upcoming signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Education, and UNESCO to implement the Sport Values in Every Classroom Toolkit in India. This initiative aims to instill sporting values, ethics, and integrity in classrooms, impacting millions of young individuals.
The meeting's objective was to enhance global cooperation in the fight against doping and to reinforce the implementation of the Convention. Discussions included a framework document detailing the roles and responsibilities of public authorities within the global anti-doping ecosystem, as well as enhancing anti-doping education and academic research through collaboration with States Parties via the National Compliance Platform. The agenda also addressed resource mobilization, the Fund's Operational Strategy for 2026-2031, compliance, and capacity-building to support a sustainable global anti-doping system.
The inaugural session featured attendees such as Farid Gayibov, Minister of Youth and Sports 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 at UNESCO; along with members of the COP10 Bureau and the Fund Approval Committee from Zambia, Spain, and Russia.
This joint meeting underscores India's active role in global sports governance, representing Group IV as a Vice-Chairperson, and its commitment to promoting ethical sports practices while supporting international frameworks like the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport.