NDTV.com;Saturday, Aug 13, 2011.
New Delhi: After being at the receiving end for its handling of the Commonwealth Games, the sports ministry has decided to act tough with sports federations.
Sports Minister Ajay Maken has proposed a new Sports Bill aimed at bringing in transparency and accountability in all sports federations.
After circulating a draft bill, Mr Maken has moved a note to the Cabinet.
The Bill proposes a 23-member advisory council comprising members from the government and sports federations.
The panel will advise the Centre on recognising and de-recognising sports federations as well as on matters of strategy.
According to the provisions of this new, tough Bill, sports federations will have to comply with the directives within a year, which will make elections compulsory every four years.
Secondly, no person beyond the age of 70 can hold more than two terms in office. Simultaneously, they cannot hold more than two positions as well.
All sports federations including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will come under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The new Bill will now make it mandatory for cricketers too to undergo age and dope tests.
The final authority on overseeing all national sports federations, Indian Olympic Association (IOA), playing fields and anti-doping agency NADA will be the Central government.
The Bill also envisages a sports ombudsman to arbitrate between warring factions or over disputes.
It also incorporates a sports tribunal to be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court to decide on penalties and pass judgements.
The proposed Bill has met with stiff resistance by sports federations in the past which are headed by politicians cutting across party lines.
Among those who will be affected are:
Sports Minister Ajay Maken has proposed a new Sports Bill aimed at bringing in transparency and accountability in all sports federations.
After circulating a draft bill, Mr Maken has moved a note to the Cabinet.
The Bill proposes a 23-member advisory council comprising members from the government and sports federations.
The panel will advise the Centre on recognising and de-recognising sports federations as well as on matters of strategy.
According to the provisions of this new, tough Bill, sports federations will have to comply with the directives within a year, which will make elections compulsory every four years.
Secondly, no person beyond the age of 70 can hold more than two terms in office. Simultaneously, they cannot hold more than two positions as well.
All sports federations including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will come under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The new Bill will now make it mandatory for cricketers too to undergo age and dope tests.
The final authority on overseeing all national sports federations, Indian Olympic Association (IOA), playing fields and anti-doping agency NADA will be the Central government.
The Bill also envisages a sports ombudsman to arbitrate between warring factions or over disputes.
It also incorporates a sports tribunal to be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court to decide on penalties and pass judgements.
The proposed Bill has met with stiff resistance by sports federations in the past which are headed by politicians cutting across party lines.
Among those who will be affected are:
- Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha who heads the All India Tennis Association.
- Jailed Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi who heads the Athletics Federation of India.
- BJP leader VK Malhotra who heads the Archery Association of India.
- Congress' Jagdish Tytler who is the President of the Judo Federation of India.
- Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala who heads the Indian Boxing Federation.
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