Hon Chairperson, hon members of the House, this Bill seeks to amend the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport Act of 1997 by deleting certain definitions, and inserting, amending and substituting others. It also makes provision for the appointment of staff of the institute by the Minister and aligns the Act with the Public Finance Management Act.
The Bill also establishes a centralised doping control programme, which may subject an athlete to testing with or without advance notice and both in or out of competition.
Provision is also made for the entry of the name of an athlete found guilty of an anti-doping violation in the doping register as well as the disclosure of certain information to sports administration bodies, the public, the SA Police Service and the South African customs services.
The Bill also makes provision for the establishment of an independent board, which shall be known as the anti-doping appeal board. It shall consist of a panel of nine persons possessing special knowledge and expertise relevant to doping from which at least three members shall be appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the institute and the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee to constitute an appeal tribunal to hear and decide upon appeals against decisions made in terms of Article 13 of the code, where appropriate. It also provides for punitive measures against national sports federations that do not comply with regulations contained in this Act.
In addition, by means of this Bill, our athletes will be alerted beforehand so that they are not caught with their pants down in some of the plots involving the use of drugs by unscrupulous persons who are in competition with them.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the committee, and the chairperson in particular, for their co-operation and friendly disposition during the deliberations. I move that the House accepts this Bill. Thank you.
Debate concluded.