National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)
[31st December, 2008]

Whereas Government of India has acknowledged that ‘doping in Sports’, which is the deliberate or inadvertent use by sportspersons of a substance or method banned by Medical Commission of International Olympic Committee/World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in an effort to gain a competitive edge over others sportspersons, is to be eradicated;

And whereas Government of India seeks to protect athletes' fundamental right to participate in clean sport and thus promotes health, fairness and equality for athletes;

And whereas mindful that doping puts at risk the ethical principles and educational values embodied in the International Charter of Physical Education and Sport of UNESCO and in Olympic Charter;

And whereas Government of India became one of the Foundation Members of WADA (1999-2002), set up with the initiative of the International Olympic Committee;

And whereas WADA adopted on 5th March, 2003 the WADA code which sets out standards in the fight against doping in sports at Copenhagen;

And whereas WADA being Swiss Private Law Foundation, the WADA code called for adoption by the Sate parties and India being one of the State parties, it signed the Copenhagen Declaration on Anti-doping in December, 2004;

And whereas after several rounds of discussions amongst Governments of various countries and Stakeholders the first of its kind having been held in Sydney from 14-17 November, 1999 affirming the role of Governments to fight against doping at national level in collaboration with National Sports Organizations, Government of India ratified on 2-8-2007 the International Convention against Doping in Sports adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 33rd Session on 19th October, 2005;

And whereas by signing the above convention, India undertook to adopt appropriate measures at the national and, international level which are consistent with the principles of World Anti-doping Code (the Code);

And whereas in terms of the above code an independent organization was to be established as apex national body possessing the primary authority to adopt and implement anti-doping rules, direct the collection of samples, the management of test results and the conduct of hearings, all at the national level and accordingly, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) which was earlier registered on 24-11-2005 was reconstituted on 2-8-2007 after separating the National Dope Testing Laboratory from its control in terms of the code;

Now, therefore, NADA, the national organization responsible for promoting, coordinating and monitoring the doping control programme in sports in all its forms in the country, has framed and circulated the enclosed WADA Code compliant NADA Anti-doping rules which are, like competition rules, sport rules governing the Conditions under which sport is played and as such are binding on the Athletes and Athlete support personnel as condition of participation. These rules are not intended to be subject to or limited by the requirements and legal standards applicable to criminal proceedings or employment matters. The policies and minimum standards set forth in the code and implemented in these Anti-doping rules represent the consensus of a broad spectrum of stakeholders with an interest in fair sport and should be respected by all courts and adjudicating bodies.