The mango that broke a market
It is peak mango season in India. The Alphonso harvest is at its richest, the Kesar at its most fragrant.
India has been re-elected as the vice-chairperson of the Bureau for the Asia-Pacific (Group IV) for the 2025–2027 term during the 10th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP10) to the International Convention against doping in sport, held from October 20 to 22 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
Azerbaijan was elected chairperson of the COP10 Bureau, while Brazil, Zambia and Saudi Arabia were chosen as vice-chairs representing their respective regional groups.
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The session coincided with the 20th anniversary of the convention, the only legally binding international framework dedicated to promoting integrity and eliminating doping in sport worldwide.
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India also provided in-kind support to the COP10 proceedings by facilitating interactive displays that showcased the journey of the Anti-Doping Convention over the past two decades.
More than 500 representatives from national governments, anti-doping organisations and permanent delegations to UNESCO participated in the conference. Discussions centred on strengthening governance and compliance mechanisms, financing the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport and addressing new challenges such as gene manipulation, traditional pharmacopoeia and ethical issues in sport, according to a Sports Ministry release.
Reports from the COP9 Bureau and Approval Committee highlighted the importance of institutional coherence, strategic communication and cross-sectoral collaboration in advancing anti-doping goals.
India also successfully proposed amendments to enhance harmonisation and visibility of education-related projects by integrating the Values Education through Sport (VETS) approach. The initiative aims to foster the transmission of values, ethics, and integrity through sport among youth, sport organisations, and communities.
The outcomes of COP10 will support ongoing reforms to strengthen the Convention’s governance, operational effectiveness and global impact. The session concluded with a renewed collective commitment by States Parties to uphold integrity and fairness in sport.
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