July 9, 2011 1:00 PM

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Bill on making sports bodies public authority this Session

The Government will soon introduce a comprehensive Bill in Parliament declaring all sports federations, including BCCI, as public authorities. The federations will be open to RTI queries and their will be a sports ombudsman or Lokpal to hear all types of complaint. In an exclusive interview to AIR, Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken said through this Bill, anti-doping norms would get legislative sanctions. He said there would also be a provision to check sexual harassment cases in sporting bodies. In case of BCCI, Maken said, 25 per cent of executive body members will be those who played cricket at the National-level. Moreover, the Bill will have tenure and age norms as no one beyond the age of 70 will be entitled to head the organisation. The President can hold office for 12 years and other members not more than eight years.On the issue of doping scandal, Mr. Maken said the Government would go to the bottom of this malaise. And after the report of the Judicial enquiry strict action would be taken against the guilty. He said for the first time action was taken against seven officials of the Sports Authority of India in this regard.In reply to a question, he said the athletes are less responsible than the doctors, coaches and officials so far doping scandal is concern. He said most of the athletes coming to the national institute of sports, Patiala are of tender age, semi literate and come from rural background so it is the job of the doctors, officials and coaches to ensure that whatever athletes take as food supplements are absolutely Dope free. AIR correspondent reports that so far 8 athletes have been tested positive the samples of whom were taken at the time of Asian and Common Wealth Games.On the question of the Shunglu committee report on the Common Wealth Games scam, the Sports Minister said 14 cases had been lodged by the CBI and all the bigwigs are languishing in jail. He said the sports ministry was also examining the report, while CAG will also present its own findings on the subject in the coming session of the Parliament.

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