A wave of relief for The National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) has washed over as the laboratory’s World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accreditation has been restored, as informed by WADA. With this development, NDTL’s Anti-Doping testing and activities will be resumed with immediate effect. This development was announced by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur, who announced this news through his Twitter handle. Thakur also mentioned in his tweet that this restoration of accreditation is a boost to India’s efforts to achieve the highest global standards of excellence in sport.
NDTL is an analytical testing and research organisation, it has been established as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. NDTL is the only laboratory in the country responsible for human sports dope testing. A dope test is done to determine whether an athlete is taking performance-enhancing drugs.
̣NDTL has taken quick steps, and now its facilities are fully geared to be at par with the peer-WADA accredited labs across the globe. For strengthening its research activities and anti-doping efforts, the laboratory has also struck a collaboration with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Guwahati, the CSIR-IIIM Jammu for research in Anti-Doping Science and other WADA accredited laboratories.
Government is also keen to establish and recognize more Dope Testing Laboratories in the country. Such laboratories will strengthen the capability for testing a greater number of samples. considering the sizable population and growing number of sportspersons in the country. These will also facilitate India to host mega sports events in the country.
The National Anti-Doping Bill 2021, introduced in the Parliament on 17 December 2021, is another step in India’s quest to become a sporting powerhouse
The government is looking forward to setting up and perceiving more Dope Testing Laboratories in the country. Such research centres will fortify the capacity for testing a more prominent number of samples, considering the sizable populace of the country. Further, these laboratories will also facilitate India to host mega sports events in the country. The National Anti-Doping Bill 2021, introduced in the Parliament on 17 December 2021, is another major step for India to become
prominent in sports.
