• Introduction

Sports have always played an important role in everyone’s life. It not only builds the character but also helps the person to become confident about the work he do. Sports have always been the most entertaining source in the world and the fact that the sports industry contributes to almost 3% of the global trade confirms the same. But what happens when anyone brings disgrace to the game? It creates outrage among the lovers of the game and disturbs the peace of the country.

In the past 2 decades various international events were organized in India. From Commonwealth games to hockey and cricket world cup, India has emerged one of the biggest organizers in the world where they got a chance to show the development of the country but such events creates problems related to media rights, sponsoring, licensing and legal sporting practices.

• Need of sports law

In recent times there have been various instances where the sporting world was crushed by the scandals and controversies. The events such as IPL spot and match fixing, women hockey players putting allegations of sexual harassment, doping, etc. Hockey is considered to be the national game of India. India won gold 8 times out of 12 at the Olympic events held between 1928 to 1980. But after 1980 India failed to qualify for the finals and the events turn into shock when India failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. To regulate such incidents a committee was required to investigate but due to absence of any law or regulations no such committee was established. These events expose the dark side of sporting world which is considered to be highly competitive.

Simon Rotenberg’s in 1956 connected the sporting world to the economics where he discussed about the uncertainty of outcome and the monopolistic nature of the labor market. The generation of revenue by organizing such events needs to be regulated but there is no regulatory authority.

These instances created an environment in the country where the need for a regulation arose but no legislation or regulations were formed to curb such activities.

• Ambit of sports Law:

The laws where sports law will play a major role are as follows:

• Labor Law:

Most of the player works on the contract basis with the related sports authority. A need is there where there must be a fixed pay scale. Not only this players need to negotiate on the working hours, working environment, etc. that needs to be decided by the authority. Also such norms will help in building the sports field more transparent and it will be the best in the interest of the game.

• Drug Use:

There are various drugs that are banned by the Doping Agency. Drugs that are consumed by the players are performance enhancing drugs that boosts the body. There must be explicit mentioning of the banned drugs, punishment for using the same, authority to check it, etc.

• Sexual Harassment Laws:

In the recent past there had been many instances where the sportswomen have raised their voice against the sexual harassment by the coaches or the people associated with the game. To avoid and to control such acts a law is required to grant punishment to such people because the person of such cadre who is representing India or the State is not expected to cross the line.

• Betting Laws:

The competitive spirit of the sports has hit to various lows where the players were found involving in fixing the game. Laws must be framed in such a way that these acts could be controlled and players who are found involving in such illicit acts must be punished accordingly.

• Broadcasting Rights:

According to Indian Competition Act if any agreement that is creating appreciable adverse effect is void. The distribution of broadcasting right must be brought within the ambit of sports law to avoid further chaos.

• Conclusion

The main objective of the sports law is to maintain the competitive spirit and if anyone who tries to break it must be punished. This law will create an authority that will have the adjudication power as well as it will create an authority that will help in maintaining the spirit of the game.