(a) whether the Union Government signed an agreement with the World Anti -Doping Agency recently ;
(b) if so, the details thereof ;
(c) whether the Union Government has taken any steps to educate athletes about anti- doping ;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor ?
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ, YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR)
(a) India is one of the founder members of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), established in November, 1999. India
has signed the Copenhagen Declaration on Anti-Doping in January 2005.
(b) The salient features of the Copenhagen Declaration are as under:-
i) The aim of this Declaration is that signatories to this Declaration act within the limit of their respective
constitutional and other legal provisions for fighting against doping in sports.
ii) The purpose of this Declaration is to articulate a political and moral understanding among participants
to recognize the role of, and support, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Code.
iii) The active support of the signatory Government, within its financial means is also sought under
this Declaration for a National Anti-Doping programme including dope control, education, research and
information activities etc.
(c ) to (e) : The control of doping in sports requires a multidimensional approach with the primary responsibility
of direct action vested with the Indian Olympic Association and the National Sports Federations. The Ministry,
through the Sports Authority of India (SAI) educates sportspersons and coaches during National Coaching Camps
by organizing lectures, distributing pamphlets, providing them with a list of banned drugs etc. Sportspersons
are also informed of the dope testing Laboratory in the premises of Sports Authority of India and Government`s
obligations to WADA under the Copenhagen Declaration to sensitize and make sportspersons aware of the dangers of
resorting to drugs and the retribution that awaits them if they do.