Secretary Sports Sujata Chaturvedi, on Saturday disclosed that country will soon have completely revamped anti-doping programme
Addressing the TURF2022 & India Sports Awards of FICCI, Sujata Chaturvedi claimed that India had become part of a select club of countries having their anti-doping law. "We are now heading towards a completely revamped national anti-doping programme housed in our National Anti-doping Agency".
In addition, she emphasised proper regulated testing facilities for the dietary supplements industry, which is primarily unregulated, leading to athletes inadvertently getting tested positive for prohibited substances. "We recently entered into an MOU with the National Forensic Science University, Ahmedabad and the Food Safety Standards Authority of India, for a lab to help with the dietary supplement testing".
She was of the view that2022 onwards has been very exciting for sports in India and listed everal marquee games, starting with the Khelo India games in Bengaluru, followed by Khelo India Youth Games in Haryana, the first Chess Olympiad and the recent National Games organised this year. "We are heading to more games and events as we go along in the next year",
The Secretary informed that the ministry is coming up in a big way on starting Women's Leagues. "We've had archery, football and various other sports coming into these leagues", she said, adding, "I can assure you it's going to be a huge deal in the coming years because we support inclusion in sports".
Speaking on the occasion veteran athlete Anju Bobby George ,said Women in sports defy the perception that they are weak or incapable", "In many countries, it has been seen that sport can be a force to amplify human voice and tear down gender barriers and discrimination".
Ace table tennis player Manika Batra, said, "sports has taught me to be brave, strong, and never give up in life". In her message to upcoming and aspiring women athletes, she added, "just be fearless and do whatever you want to do".