New Delhi: India has become the 17th country in the world to establish an Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU), marking a significant step in the fight against doping in sports. The unit was inaugurated by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL).
The APMU will be responsible for managing and monitoring the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), which tracks an athlete’s blood and steroidal profiles over time. This passport includes data on various physiological markers, such as blood parameters and hormonal levels, which can help identify trends or anomalies that may indicate doping without directly detecting banned substances.
“Setting up the APMU is a crucial milestone in India’s ongoing battle against doping. It will enable the systematic monitoring of athletes’ biological profiles, helping to identify doping patterns and ensuring the fairness of sports,” Mandaviya said during the inauguration. He also highlighted that the APMU will assist neighboring countries with fewer resources in setting up similar systems.
Aligned with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines, India’s new unit strengthens the global anti-doping program. The country now joins an elite group of nations, including the USA, China, Germany, France, Australia, and Japan, which have already set up such units at their WADA-accredited dope testing facilities.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Sujata Chaturvedi, Secretary (Sports), Kunal, Joint Secretary (Sports), and Dr. P L Sahu, Director and CEO of NDTL, among other officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
With the establishment of the APMU, India reaffirms its commitment to maintaining the integrity of sports and ensuring fair play at all levels.
