Sports Law in India: Evolution, Challenges, and Contemporary Developments

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of sports law in India, focusing on the transformative impact of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The study analyzes India\'s transition from fragmented, guideline-based sports governance to comprehensive statutory regulation, addressing historical challenges of accountability, transparency, and athlete representation. Through examination of key legislation, institutional developments, and landmark cases, the research reveals how India is establishing a multi-tiered governance structure encompassing the National Sports Board, National Sports Tribunal, and mandatory democratic processes for sports federations. The article explores contemporary issues including contract law, anti-doping regulations, dispute resolution mechanisms, intellectual property rights, gender equality, and emerging areas such as esports recognition. While acknowledging significant progress in creating athlete-centered governance frameworks, the study identifies ongoing challenges including implementation gaps, jurisdictional limitations, and the balance between governmental oversight and sporting autonomy. The research contributes to understanding sports law development in federal systems and provides insights for sports governance reform in developing nations. The findings suggest that while India\'s new statutory framework addresses many historical deficiencies, sustained attention to enforcement mechanisms, institutional independence, and inclusive participation will be crucial for realizing the legislation\'s transformative potential.

Introduction

Sports law in India has evolved into a distinct and fast-growing field, driven by the country’s expanding global sporting presence and the increasing commercialization of sports. Historically, the regulation of sports was fragmented, relying on general contract and administrative law rather than specific legislation. This changed with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, India’s first comprehensive statutory framework for sports governance, marking a turning point in the formal regulation of sports.

1. Evolution of Sports Governance

India’s sports governance transitioned from informal, association-based structures to a regulated statutory system. Before 2025, the National Sports Development Code (2011) provided guidelines but lacked legal enforceability, leading to poor transparency, indefinite tenures, and weak athlete representation. Bodies like the Indian Olympic Association (1927) and Sports Authority of India (1984) played key roles, but disputes were often handled inconsistently by civil courts. Judicial interventions—especially in BCCI-related cases—highlighted the need for a dedicated sports law framework.

The 2025 Act centralizes governance authority and aims to standardize sports administration nationwide, though it raises constitutional questions about federal powers since sports fall under the State List (Entry 33). By invoking Article 253 and Entry 97 (Union List), the Act aligns national governance with international obligations, potentially redefining the status of sports federations as “State” entities under Article 12, thereby making them subject to constitutional accountability.

2. Contract Law and Athlete Rights

Sports contracts in India are primarily governed by the Indian Contract Act, 1872, supplemented by sports regulations, anti-doping rules, and labor laws. Modern contracts now cover sponsorship, broadcasting, and image rights, reflecting sports’ commercial evolution. Key clauses include service obligations, arbitration, and revenue sharing.
A major issue remains the legal classification of athletes—whether they are employees or independent contractors—impacting taxation and benefits.

The Percept D’Mark v. Zaheer Khan case set a crucial precedent by ruling against restrictive trade clauses, upholding athletes’ freedom of contract. Despite these advances, the absence of sports-specific labor law continues to cause ambiguity.

Athlete welfare, particularly for women, remains uneven. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 covers sports environments, but implementation challenges persist, underscoring the need for better institutional support and gender equality in sports.

3. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

India’s sports dispute mechanisms have long been fragmented, relying on internal federations, civil courts, and limited international arbitration through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Over 770 sports-related disputes in the past decade illustrate the lack of a coherent framework.

The National Sports Tribunal, created under the 2025 Act, aims to provide a specialized forum for resolving disputes efficiently, headed by retired judges and sports experts. However, its exclusion of doping-related cases and matters under international federations limits its jurisdiction, creating overlaps and confusion with the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). The Tribunal’s success will depend on its independence, resources, and the efficiency of its procedures.

4. Anti-Doping Regulations

India’s anti-doping system is managed by NADA, established under the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022, in line with the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA). It oversees testing, education, and enforcement, supported by the National Anti-Doping Rules (2021). The framework includes rules for athlete whereabouts, exemptions, and sanctions for violations.

However, India faces challenges such as limited testing capacity, insufficient labs, and procedural delays. The National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports was introduced to oversee policy and appeals, but coordination issues persist due to separate forums for doping and other sports disputes. Maintaining compliance with WADA standards is essential for India’s international reputation and athlete eligibility.

5. Intellectual Property and Broadcasting Rights

Sports broadcasting and media rights are protected under the Copyright Act, 1957 and the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007. These laws balance commercial exclusivity and public access, requiring private broadcasters to share major sports event signals with Prasar Bharati on a 75–25 revenue split.
Key challenges include signal piracy, unauthorized streaming, and cross-border enforcement, demanding stronger cooperation and updated digital laws.

The rise of commercial sports has also intensified debates on athlete image rights, trademarks, and sponsorship agreements. While Indian law recognizes personality rights to some extent, the absence of comprehensive image rights legislation leaves athletes vulnerable to unauthorized commercial use of their likeness.

Conclusion

Sports law in India has undergone a remarkable transformation from fragmented, guideline-based governance to comprehensive statutory regulation through the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. This evolution addresses long-standing challenges of accountability, transparency, and athlete protection while creating new institutional mechanisms for effective sports governance. The Act\'s establishment of the National Sports Board, National Sports Tribunal, and mandatory governance structures represents a paradigm shift toward athlete-centered, democratic sports administration. However, significant challenges remain in implementation and enforcement. The success of India\'s reformed sports law framework will depend on genuine compliance with statutory requirements, effective functioning of new institutions, and resolution of constitutional questions regarding federal jurisdiction and sports federation status. The exclusion of doping cases from the National Sports Tribunal\'s jurisdiction and concerns about governmental influence in regulatory bodies highlight areas requiring continued attention and potential reform. The integration of emerging issues such as sports recognition, technological innovation, and international compliance demonstrates sports law\'s dynamic nature and the need for adaptive regulatory frameworks. Gender equality, athlete welfare, and inclusive participation remain priorities requiring sustained legal and institutional support. As India\'s sporting profile continues to grow globally, the effectiveness of its sports law framework will significantly impact athletic development, international competitiveness, and sporting integrity. Future research should examine the practical implementation of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, assess the effectiveness of new institutional mechanisms, and analyze the balance between governmental oversight and sporting autonomy. Comparative studies with international sports governance models could inform further refinements to India\'s approach. The evolution of sports law in India reflects broader trends in sports governance globally and provides valuable insights for other developing nations seeking to modernize their sporting legal frameworks.” ”

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Siddhant Chandra. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.