Declaration

This dissertation has been submitted to Delhi Metropolitan Education, affiliated to Guru
Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, and recognised by Bar Council of India,
in partial fulfilment of the requirement prescribed for LL.B (H). The matter embodied in
this dissertation is original and has not been submitted in any other
University/Organization for the award of any other degree.

PARAMVIR SINGH BHUMRAH

BACHELORS OF LAW (B.A. LL.B)
BATCH – 2015-2020
ENROLLMENT NO. 05751103815

i
 Supervisor Certificate

It is to certify that Mr. PARAMVIR SINGH BHUMRAH, student of B.A. LL.B (H)
(FINAL YEAR), ENROLLMENT NO. 05751103815, DELHI METROPOLITAN
EDUCATION, has completed his dissertation entitled “AN ANALYSIS OF SPORTS
LAW IN INDIA” in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of
Laws under my guidance and supervision. The work done is original and meets the
requirements laid down by Delhi Metropolitan Education for awarding the Degree of
Bachelor of Laws.

SUPERVISOR
MS. KOMAL KAPOOR
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW
DELHI METROPOLITAN EDUCATION

ii
 Dissertation

An Analysis of Sports Law in India

May, 2020

D
Delhi Metropolitan Education
Affiliated to
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi
And
Approved by Bar Council of India

Submitted By:

PARAMVIR SINGH BHUMRAH

BACHELOR OF LAWS (B.A. LL.B)
Supervisor Batch: 2015-2020 (Final Year)
Ms. Komal Kapoor Enroll. No. 05751103815
Assistant Professor of Law, Email: paramveer291@gmail.com
Delhi Metropolitan Education Mob No. 8447999912

iii
 Preface

While working on this dissertation, there are many new things which I learned in the
course of writing. I am really thankful to ‘Krida Legal’ (A Sports and Gaming, IPR and
Litigation Law Firm) for giving me the opportunity to intern with them and I am also
really thankful to Mr. Shubhash Bhutoria sir for acceding to my request and extending
my internship for the total period of three months. However, unfortunately because of
the current situation all over the world due to Covid-19, it does affected everybody and
so my internship.

During the course of internship, the research work related to sports, gave me
opportunity and helped me to develop interest to write dissertation on the subject of
‘Sports Law’, and after completion of this dissertation I really find this worth, that
instead of doing dissertation on daily law topics, I stepped outside my syllabus and done
something out of box, and this actually gave me knowledge about the laws related to
Sports in India and the current situation.

This dissertation gives an overview of current sports scenario in India, talks about the
issues faced by the sports persons, issues of doping, issues of betting and gambling, and
the role of state related to sports.

Paramvir Singh Bhumrah

Bachelors of Law (B.A. LL.B)
May, 2020 Enroll. No. 05751103815
Delhi Metropolitan Education

iv
 Acknowledgement

It gives me immense pleasure and sense of gratitude to acknowledge my indebtedness to

my Supervisor, Ms. Komal Kapoor, Assistant Professor of Law, Delhi Metropolitan
Education, Affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi. It is
due to the instructions provided by my supervisor I was able to complete my work in
time. I really appreciate the guidance and time given for making me understand the
structure of dissertation and how to work efficiently.

I would also thank my parents and friends for sharing their precious time with me which
encouraged me to complete this work.

PARAMVIR SINGH BHUMRAH

Bachelor of Laws (B.A. LL.B)
BATCH – 2015-2020
ENROLLMENT NO. 05751103815

v
 Table of Contents

Declaration..................................................................... i
Supervisor Certificate..................................................... ii
Preface............................................................................ iv
Acknowledgement........................................................... v
List of cases.................................................................... ix-x
List of abbreviations....................................................... xi-xiii

Page
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 01
1.1 – An Overview...................................................................................................... 01
1.2 – Literature Review............................................................................................... 04
1.3 – Research Objectives........................................................................................... 06
1.4 – Research Methodology....................................................................................... 07
1.5 – Hypothesis.......................................................................................................... 07

CHAPTER 2: OVERVIEW OF CURRENT SPORTS SCENARIO 08

2.1 – Individual Sports-Origin and Development...................................................... 08
2.2 – History of Some Well Known Sports................................................................ 09
(a) History of Olympic Games........................................................................ 09
(b) History of Cricket....................................................................................... 10
(c) History of Hockey...................................................................................... 10
(d) History of Football..................................................................................... 11
(e) History of Chess......................................................................................... 12
2.3 – History and Origin of Sports in India................................................................ 13
2.4 – The Need For Sports Legislation....................................................................... 16
2.5 – Hierarchy and Structure of Sports Bodies......................................................... 19

vi
CHAPTER 3: ISSUES PLAGUING THE SPORTS IN INDIA 21
3.1 – Gender Discrimination in Sports.................................................................... 21
3.1.1 - History of Women’s Participation in Sports............................................... 22
3.1.2 - Challenges Faced by the Sportswomen in India till Today........................ 23
3.1.2(a) - Gender Verification...................................................................... 24
3.1.2(b) - Sexual Harassment........................................................................ 27
3.1.2(bb) - Law to Prevent Sexual Harassment................................... 29
3.1.2(c) - Financial Issues............................................................................. 31
3.1.2(cc) - Encouraging Participation is the Key to Eradicate Issues
33
relating Women in Sports.................................................
Conclusion............................................................................................................. 35
.

3.2 - Doping: The Poison.......................................................................................... 36

3.2.1 - History of Doping....................................................................................... 36
3.2.2 - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)................................................ 40
3.2.3 - Controversy regarding biasness of WADA................................................ 41
3.2.4 - National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).................................................... 43
Conclusion.............................................................................................................. 46

3.3 - Betting and Gambling in India........................................................................ 48

3.3.1 - Historical Background of Gambling in India............................................. 48
3.3.2 - Law related to Gambling in India............................................................... 51
3.3.3 - Applicability of Gambling Acts in India.................................................... 53
3.3.4 - Game of Skill versus Game of Chance....................................................... 54
3.3.5 - Fantasy Sport being considered as ‘Game of Skill’.................................... 57
3.3.6 - Should Sports Betting Be Legalized?......................................................... 58
3.3.7 - Recommendation for Legalisation of Betting and Gambling in India........ 60
3.3.8 - Is Online Gambling Legal in India?........................................................... 61
Conclusion.............................................................................................................. 63

vii
CHAPTER 4: THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE TOWARDS SPORTS 64
4.1 – Background........................................................................................................ 64
4.2 – Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports............................................................... 66
4.3 – Indian Olympic Association (IOA)................................................................... 67
4.4 – Role of Indian Olympic Association................................................................. 68
4.5 – National Sports Development Code of India, 2011.......................................... 69
4.6 – History of the Sports Code................................................................................ 69
4.7 – Objectives of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011.............. 74
4.8 – Role and responsibilities of MYAS, NSFs and SAI......................................... 75
4.9 – National Sports Fraud Bill................................................................................. 76
Conclusion.................................................................................................................. 80

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS........................................................................ 81

BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................ 84

viii
 List of Cases

Page

Bimalendu De v Union of India & Ors. AIR 2001 Cal 30........................................................ 58

Chandrakant Hargovindas Shah v Deputy Commissioner of Police (2009) 7 SCC 186........... 18

Dr. K.R. Laksmanan v State of Tamil Nadu, 1996 2 SCC 226................................................. 55

Dutee Chand v. AFI & IAAF, CAS 2014/A/3759.................................................................... 26

Ganga v Empress 1885 P.R. No. 41(Cr)................................................................................... 52

Indian Olympic Association v Union of India 212 (2014) DLT 389........................................ 71

Lilley v Elk Grove Unified School District (1998) 68 Cal App 4, 939..................................... 64

Makinnon Mackenzie and Co Ltd v. Audrey D’Costa AIR 1987 SC 1281.............................. 33

Manakadu Elainger Nala Sports v State of Tamil Nadu 2005 (29) A.I.C 440.......................... 54

Narinder Batra v Union of India (2009) ILR 4 Del 280............................................................ 70

News Television India Ltd. and Ors v. Ashok D. Waghmare and Anr 2006 (2) MHLJ 431… 58

Nimmagadda Raghavalu & Others v Unknown AIR 1953 Mad 243........................................ 53

Rahul Mehra v Union of India (2010) CWP 195...................................................................... 71

Rahul Mehra v Union of India W.P. (C) 11362/2015............................................................... 73

Reeja v. State of Kerala 2004 (3) KLT 599............................................................................... 49

Rex v Fortier 13 Que K.B. 308……………………………………………………………….. 54

Shri. Varun Gumber v UT of Chandigarh & Ors. CWP No. 7559 of 2017.............................. 57

State of AP v K Satyanarayana (1968)2 SCR 387, AIR 1968 SC 825..................................... 56

State of Bombay v RMD Chamarbaugwala AIR 1957 SC 699................................................ 56

ix
State v Gupton 30 N.C. 271....................................................................................................... 55

Subha Rao v The King AIR 1951 Pat 405................................................................................ 53

Vishaka and Ors v. State of Rajasthan AIR 1997 SC 3011....................................................... 31

Zee Telefilms Ltd and Anr v Union of India and Ors AIR 2005 SC 2677............................... 65

x
 List of Abbreviations

AAS - Anabolic Androgenic Steroids

ACC - Anti-Corruption Code

ACU - Anti-Corruption Unit

ADAMS - Anti-Doping Administration and Management System

AFI - Athletic Federation of India

AIBA - Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (International

Boxing Association)

BCCI - Board of Control for Cricket in India

BJP - Bhartiya Janta Party

CAS - Court of Arbitration for Sports

CBI - Central Bureau of Investigation

CEDAW - Convention for Elimination of all kinds of Discrimination

Against Women

GC - Gas Chromatography

GOI - Government of India

HC - High Court

HI - Hockey India

IAAF - International Association of Athletic Federation

IBID - Meaning- in the same place, is used to refer to an authority

xi
 in the footnote immediately preceding the current footnote
and the same page/place is being referred to.
ICC - International Cricket Council

ICJ - International Court of Justice

IOA - International Olympic Association

IOC - International Olympic Committee

IPL - Indian Premier League

KBC - Kaun Banega Crorepati

LTDP - Long Term Development Plan

MYAS - Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

NADA - National Anti-Doping Agency

NSDCI - National Sports Development Code of India

NSF - National Sports Federation

ODI - One Day International

PIL - Public Interest Litigation

SAI - Sports Authority of India

SLP - Special Leave Petition

SOP - Standard Operating Procedure

SUPRA - It is used to refer to a prior footnote

UCI - Union Cycliste Internationale

UN - United Nations

UNOSDP - United Nation Office on Sport for Development and Peace

UOI - Union of India

USADA - United States Anti-Doping Agency

xii
USD - United States Dollar

WADA - World Anti-Doping Agency

xiii