National Anti-Doping Act, 2022
[15 OF 2022*]
An Act to provide for the constitution of the National Anti-Doping Agency for regulating anti-doping activities in sports and to give effect to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation International Convention against doping in sport, and compliance of such other obligations and commitments thereunder and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Whereas India is a signatory to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation International Convention against doping in sport; and Whereas India has ratified the said Convention on the 7th day of November, 2007;
And Whereas it is considered expedient to maintain highest standards of integrity while participating and preparing for sports competition domestically and internationally, to regulate anti-doping activities in sports and to meet obligations of India under the said Convention.
Be it enacted by the Parliament in the Seventy-third Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
Short title and commencement.
1. (1) This Act may be called the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022.
(2)It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint. Definitions.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “Agency” means the National Anti-Doping Agency incorporated and constituted under sub-section (1) of section 14;
(b) “Anti-Doping Rule Violation” means the circumstance, act or conduct specified in section 4;
*Dated 12-8-2022.
(c) “Appeal panel” means the National Anti-Doping Appeal panel constituted under section 12; 1
(d) “athlete” means any person who competes in any sport at the national level or international level or participates in any competition or event to which this Act applies;
(e) “athlete support personnel” means any coach, trainer, manager, agent, team staff, official, medical or paramedical personnel or such other person working with or treating or assisting an athlete who is participating in, or preparing for, a competition or event at the national level or international level or to which this Act applies;
(f) “Board” means the National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports established under sub-section (1) of section 7;
(g) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Board appointed under sub-section (2) of section 7;
(h) “Code” means the World Anti-Doping Code adopted and amended from time to time by the World Anti-Doping Agency;
(i) “competition” means a single race, match, game or singular contest;
(
j) “Convention” means the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation International Convention against doping in sport;
(k) “Director General” means the Director General appointed under sub-section (3) of section 14;
(l) “Disciplinary Panel” means the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel constituted under sub-section (1) of section 11;
(m) “dope testing laboratory” means a laboratory established or recognised under section 26;
(n) “doping Control” includes all steps and processes from test distribution planning up to the disposal of any appeal and enforcement of consequences, including all steps and processes in between, including but not limited to, testing, investigation, whereabouts, Therapeutic Use Exemptions, sample collection and handling, laboratory analysis, Results Management, hearings and appeals, and investigations or proceedings relating to an Anti-Doping Rule Violation;
(o) “doping in sport” means the occurrence of any Anti-Doping Rule Violations specified in section 4;
(p) “event” means a series of individual competitions conducted together under anyone ruling body, such as Olympic Games, World Champion ships of an International Federation and such other event;
(q) “In-competition Testing” means collection of sample for testing from an athlete who is participating in a competition where such collection is made at any time during the period commencing at 11:59 p.m. on the day before the competition in which such athlete is scheduled to participate till the end of such competition and the sample collection process related to such competition;
(r) “international event” means an event or competition where the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee,
an International Federation, a major event organisation or another international sport organisation is the governing body for such event or appoints the technical officials for the event;
(s) “International Federation” means the international governing body for a particular sport;
(t) “Member” means a Member of the Board appointed under sub-section (2) of section 7 and includes the Chairperson thereof;
(u) “national event” means a sport event or competition involving international level or national level athletes which is not an international event;
(v) “National Sports Federation” means any recognised body governing a particular sport to which the Code is applicable;
(w) “Other Anti-Doping Organisations” means organisations which are responsible for adopting anti-doping rules for initiating, implementing or enforcing any part of the doping control process and include the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, other major event organisations that conduct testing at their events and International Federations, but does not include the Agency;
(x) “Out-of-competition Testing” means sample collection during any period other than the period specified for in-competition testing;
(y) “person” means a natural person or an organisation or other entity;
(z) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(za) “Prohibited List” means the list of prohibited substances and prohibited methods specified by the Agency by regulations;
(zb) “prohibited method” means any method listed in the Prohibited List;
(zc) “prohibited substance” means any substance listed in the Prohibited List;
(zd) “regulations” means regulations made by the Board or the Agency, as the case may be;
(ze) “sample” means any biological material collected from an athlete for the purpose of doping control under this Act;
(zf) “Society” means the National Anti-Doping Agency or the National Dope Testing Laboratory, as the case may be, registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) and functioning as such immediately before the commencement of this Act;
(zg) “testing” means the parts of the doping control process involving test distribution planning, sample collection, sample handling, sample transport to the laboratory and testing of samples;
(zh) “use” means the utilisation, application, ingestion, injection or consumption by any means whatsoever of any prohibited substance or prohibited method;
(zi) “World Anti-Doping Agency” means an international agency established on 10th November, 1999 in Switzerland which adopts and amends the Code for giving effect to anti-doping policies and international standards.
COMMENTS
SECTION NOTES
2.1 Agency [Clause (a)]
u Refers to the “National Anti-Doping Agency,” (NADA) [See section 14(1)]. This agency is the central body for executing the Act’s anti-doping functions and responsibilities.
2.2 Anti-Doping Rule Violation [Clause (b)]
u Encompasses specific actions or conduct outlined in Section 4.
2.3 Appeal Panel [Clause (c)]
u Denotes the “National Anti-Doping Appeal Panel,” [See Section 12], tasked with hearing appeals related to anti-doping decisions of NADA.
2.4 Athlete [Clause (d)]
u Any individual competing in any sport at the national or international levels or participating in competitions or events governed by this Act.
2.5 Athlete Support Personnel [Clause (e)]
u Includes coaches, trainers, managers, agents, medical staff, or others assisting athletes in preparation or competition at national or international events.
2.6 Code [Clause (h)]
u The “World Anti-Doping Code,” adopted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as amended from time to time.
2.7 Competition [Clause (i)]
u Defined as an individual race, match, or game, emphasizing the single-event nature of “competition.”
2.8 Prohibited List [Clause (za)]
u List of banned substances and methods specified by the Agency (NADA) in its regulations.
2.9 Prohibited Method [Clause (zb)]
u Any technique listed in the Prohibited List that is forbidden under the Act.
2.10 Prohibited Substance [Clause (zc)]
u Any chemical or substance listed as banned in the Prohibited List.
2.11 Sample [Clause(ze)]
u Biological materials collected from athletes to test for doping compliance.
2.12 Use [Clause (zh)]
u Defined as the application or consumption of any prohibited substance or method, covering various forms of ingestion and application.
CHAPTER II
PROHIBITION OF DOPING IN SPORT AND ANTIDOPING RULE VIOLATIONS
Prohibition of doping in sport.
3. (1) No athlete, athlete support personnel or other persons shall indulge in doping in sport.
NATIONAL
ANTI-DOPING ACT 2022 WITH
NATIONAL ANTI-DOPING RULES 2021 – BARE ACT WITH SECTION NOTES
AUTHOR : Taxmann's Editorial Board
PUBLISHER : Taxmann
DATE OF PUBLICATION : December 2025
EDITION : 2026 Edition
ISBN NO : 9789371265478
NO. OF PAGES : 108
BINDING TYPE : Paperback
DESCRIPTION
National Anti-Doping Act 2022 with National Anti-Doping Rules 2021 [Bare Act with Section Notes] by Taxmann is a compact yet authoritative statutory reference that presents India's anti-doping framework as a fully enforceable, institutionally structured, and internationally aligned legal regime. The publication consolidates the complete legal architecture governing anti-doping in sport—covering prohibition, investigation, adjudication, sanctions, appeals, data governance, and international compliance—within a single, systematically arranged volume. Distinct from an ordinary Bare Act, the book is enhanced with section-wise explanatory notes that simplify complex provisions, explain procedural workflows, and situate Indian law within the framework of the World Anti-Doping Code and the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport. The 2026 Edition reflects the law as amended and updated, including changes introduced by the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Act 2025, and captures India's post-Code enforcement orientation.
This publication is specifically designed for stakeholders who must apply, interpret, enforce, or comply with anti-doping law, including:
• Sports Law Practitioners, Regulatory Lawyers, & Disciplinary Counsels
• Officers, Investigators, And Adjudicators Associated with NADA & Allied Bodies
• National Sports Federations, Olympic/Paralympic Bodies, & League Administrators
• Athletes, Athlete Support Personnel, & Medical Professionals
• Arbitrators, Compliance Officers, & Sports Integrity Professionals
• Academicians, Policy Researchers, & Students
The Present Publication is the 2026 Edition, covering the amended and updated text of the National Anti-Doping Act [Act No. 15 of 2022] and Rules, with the following noteworthy features:
• [Complete Legislative Framework] Full text of the National Anti-Doping Act 2022 with all notified amendments
• [Integrated Rulebook] Entire National Anti-Doping Rules 2021, structured article-wise in line with the WADA Code
• [Section-wise Explanatory Notes] Contextual notes clarifying statutory intent, scope, and procedure
• [Force-of-Law WADA Provisions] Schedule giving statutory force to selected provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code
• [Institutional Design Clarity] Clear statutory exposition of the National Board, NADA, Disciplinary Panel, and Appeal Panel
• [Procedural Architecture] Comprehensive coverage of testing, investigations, results management, hearings, sanctions, and appeals
• [Sanctions & Consequences Framework] Structured treatment of disqualification, ineligibility, provisional suspension, penalties, and disclosure
• [Data Governance & Privacy] Provisions governing athlete data, databases, confidentiality, and reporting
• [Subject Index] Detailed index for efficient statutory navigation
