Formation of national anti-doping governing board approved
After a long gap of seven years, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) met here, during which several important decisions were made including the approval of the national anti-doping governing board.
The 11-member PSB board headed by Federal Minister for Inter-provincial Coord ination (IPC) Dr Fehmida Mirza held its first meeting after its restructuring by federal cabinet last December. Earlier, the board which had 37 members when it last met back in the year 2013, was reduced to 11.
In an important decision, the board approved the formation of an anti-doping governing board to foster dopingfree sports culture in the country. This governing board will comprise representatives from the PSB, Pakistan Cric ket Board, Pakistan Olympic Association and officials from health and law ministries.
It will protect the rights of athletes besides maintaining the integrity of sports and will also raise awareness among sportspersons about the consequences of doping. The PSB also decided that government funding will be provided only on the basis of the performance delivered by the national sports federations (NSFs).
It also decided that funds will be given only to legitimate NSFs having a proper structure from local club/tehsil to national level.
The PSB directed NSFs to submit their annual activity calendar along with budget estimates during the month of March for the next financial year so that their proposals could be incorporated into the PSB budget. It was also decided that NSFs will submit their statement of accounts duly aud ited by a reputable audit firm for the previous financial year and the government grant would be released only on the receipt of these accounts.
The board also discussed the scope and functions of PSB Board in the wake of 18th Constitutional Amend ment, stating that board nece ssitates the paradigm shift in the working of the Board. It was also highlighted at Thursday's meeting that there is an urgent need to curtail unnecessary expen ses in order to increase revenue generation for sporting activities in line with the vision of the government.