Under proposed law, coaches could go to jail

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 26

Indian athletes caught for doping have been subjected to various sanctions by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), but when it comes to punishing their coaches for intentionally administering banned substances in some cases, NADA has found its hands tied. However, the scenario might change in the near future with the government contemplating criminalising doping.

The government has been working on a draft legislation to criminalise anti-doping rule violation and the proposed legislation would soon be sent to the Law Ministry for vetting before getting introduced in the Cabinet. The passage of the Bill could take place in the winter session of the Parliament this year. This after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) ranked India third on the global list of dope offenders for the third straight year.

According to NADA director general Navin Agarwal, the anti-doping watchdog has proposed to hold coaches, medical staff and other support personnel guilty for encouraging their wards to use performance-enhancing drugs. Agarwal informed that under the proposed law, if proved guilty, the coaches and support staff members could be given a jail term.

“Under the new law, doping by a sportsperson wouldn’t only be a criminal offence, but coaches and the support staff would equally be held responsible,” Agarwal told The Tribune.

“It would act as a deterrent. So, the proposed bill focuses more on coaches rather than athletes,” he added.

“It’s unlikely that the athletes would be sent to jail for first-time offences. But the serial offenders won’t be spared. The NADA has the provision to sanction a dope cheat for four years. In the past, the government and the NADA would find it hard to punish the coaches; but not anymore. Like the athletes, the coaches would also be offered a chance to defend their case,” Agarwal added.

Talking about the proposed legislation, Agarwal informed that it would be on the lines of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. “As per the narcotics act, there are legal provisions for manufacturing, possession, transportation, procurement and consumption of drugs. The doping legislation would be based on the same pattern. There would be various sanctions for an offence, which would range from jail term to hefty fine,” he added. 

Many countries have the provision to send athletes and coaches to jail for a doping offence, which include Germany, Australia, Austria, Italy, France, Spain and Ethiopia.

Agarwal largely put the blame for the increasing number of doping cases in India on the lure of cash awards and recognition which an athlete gets after winning a medal at events like the Olympics or Asian Games. “Majority of our athletes come from very humble backgrounds. They don’t know much about the food supplements and what medicines to take in case of illness or disease. The NADA is doing its best to educate the athletes. But, many coaches do it intentionally because if their wards win medals, they would also become crorepatis. These days, a medal winner would become an overnight millionaire,” Agarwal explained.