New Delhi: On a day when India continued to top the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) global list of doping offenders, the Sports Ministry has assured that the National Anti-Doping Bill will be introduced in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.On the AIU list, India had 162 dopers, ahead of Kenya (148) and Russia (60). This includes individuals serving bans for doping violations based on a positive test for a prohibited substance and/or tampering, test evasion, trafficking or disappearance.According to the amended bill, the trade and distribution of banned substances to athletes will carry a prison sentence of five years.“Until now, athletes have been punished for such violations. They would get suspensions or bans. But we have to go after those who supply them with these substances, including doctors,” said a Ministry official.The public hearing period for the amended bill ends on June 18. The monsoon session of Parliament begins on July 20.The amendment is similar to one proposed in 2018, which then called for four years in prison and a fine of 2 lakh rupees for organized crime syndicates and anyone found guilty of supplying athletes with banned substances.However, the provisions were dropped from the bill that was eventually passed in 2022 and amended once again last year as the government agreed to the idea of ​​”preventive legislation, not punitive legislation”.India has also topped the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) global list for the past three years.
