Has India Been Re-elected as Vice-Chair of COP10 Asia-Pacific Bureau, Reinforcing Its Commitment to Clean Sport?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India re-elected as Vice-Chair for Asia-Pacific Bureau.
- COP10 held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
- 20th anniversary of the Anti-Doping Convention celebrated.
- Discussions on governance, compliance, and emerging challenges.
- India proposed amendments for enhanced education in sports.
New Delhi, Oct 23 (NationPress) India has been re-elected as the vice-chairperson of the Bureau for the Asia-Pacific (Group IV) for the term 2025–2027 during the 10th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP10) to the International Convention against Doping in Sport, which took place from October 20 to 22 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Azerbaijan has taken on the role of Chairperson of the COP10 Bureau, with Brazil, Zambia, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also being elected as vice-chairs for their respective regional groups.
This meeting commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Convention, recognized as the only legally binding international framework dedicated to promoting integrity and eradicating doping in global sport.
India further demonstrated its commitment by providing in-kind support to the COP10 Session, including interactive boards that illustrated the timeline of the Anti-Doping Convention.
Over 500 representatives from national governments, anti-doping organizations, and permanent delegations to UNESCO participated in this significant assembly.
Discussions concentrated on enhancing governance and compliance under the Convention, financing the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport, and tackling new challenges such as gene manipulation, traditional pharmacopoeia, and ethical concerns in sports, according to the sports ministry’s announcement.
The reports from the COP9 Bureau and Approval Committee emphasized the importance of institutional coherence, strategic communication, and cross-sectoral integration.
India successfully advocated for amendments to promote harmonization and visibility in education-related projects by integrating the Values Education through Sport (VETS) approach to instill values, ethics, and integrity among youth, sports organizations, and society as a whole.
The outcomes of COP10 will aid in the ongoing reform of the Convention, aimed at improving its governance and effectiveness.
The session wrapped up with a strong reaffirmation of the collective commitment from States Parties to uphold integrity and fairness in sports.