Sports Ministry mandates transparency, athlete welfare, anti-doping measures in new framework for IOA, NSFs
NEW DELHI: With an eye on hosting the 2036 Olympics, the Sports Ministry has issued a set of instructions related to hosting and conduct of National Games and National Championships to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and the National Sports Federations (NSFs).
“It is of prime importance that the national events are hosted with well-defined standards, adhering to proper norms, and honour their national character, respect national diversity and integrity by enabling wide participation by athletes and teams across sports disciplines, maintain the integrity of the sporting competitions and also ensure the welfare and safety of participating athletes from across the country,” said the ministry in an official release.
The ministry has asked the IOA, PCI and NSFs to publish in advance their respective annual calendars on their respective websites by December of the preceding year for the year that follows.
NATIONAL GAMES
– The Games Technical Conduct Committee, list of disciplines, and eligibility criteria for participants should be communicated at least six months prior to the event by the IOA and the host.
– Provide details of the NSFs governing different disciplines at least 60 days prior to the event’s commencement.
– Submit the actual schedule 45 days prior to the commencement of the event.
– Within 30 days of the event’s completion, submit a list of all participants, the state/team they represented (including the basis of their eligibility), the events they participated in and their results.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
– At least 60 days prior to the commencement, the NSF and the host have to submit the list of all events included, the participating states and the eligibility criteria
– Submit the actual schedule 45 days prior to the commencement of the event.
– Within 30 days of the completion of the event, submit a list of all participants, the state/team they represented (including the basis of their eligibility), the events they participated in and their results.
The IOA and the NSFs also have to provide a “written description of all measures that will be undertaken in respect of anti-doping, age-fraud, match integrity, prevention of sexual harassment and athlete welfare and safety in respect of the event, including training of athletes, the deployment of policies and monitoring measures, whistleblower and reporting protocols and grievance redressal measures.”
The ministry said speedy dispute resolution is an essential aspect of well-organised events and all national competitions must have a robust ad-hoc panel to handle complaints from athletes and officials.
The Olympic Charter, the Paralympic Charter and the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, provide IOA, PCI and NSFs the autonomy and the responsibility to conduct events such as the National Games and National Championships. NSFs like the All India Football Federation and the Wrestling Federation of India have been earlier suspended because of outside or government interference.
Agencies