Owning the Numbers: India’s New Legal Framework for Athlete Data Control (Part 1)
This two part article examines the extent to which Indian sportspersons can assert legal control over their performance and biometric data under two recently enacted statutes: the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) with full operational effect expected by 13 May 2027[1]; and the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (NSG Act)[2]. It explains how athletes qualify as "data principals" under the DPDP Act and what rights of consent, access, correction and erasure that status confers; how the NSG Act's governance obligations reinforce those rights within recognised sports federations; and what practical tools are available to players, agents and advisers seeking to limit or shape the commercial exploitation of athlete data. Drawing on the UK's Project Red Card litigation as a comparative reference point, the article closes with implications for contract drafting, domestic dispute resolution and, in time, independent arbitral bodies.
Article overview (Part 1)
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- Tags: 2023 (DPDP Act) | 2025 (NSG Act) | Commercial | Cricket | Data | Digital Personal Data Protection Act | Football | India | Intellectual Property | National Sports Governance Act | Sports
Written by
Chirayato Banerjee
Chirayato Banerjee is a civil judge in the District Judiciary, India. He has written extensively on football among other sports during his stint as the official media representative for various sports websites during past seasons of the Indian Super League and I-League. Currently, he writes/researches on topics relating to the world of sports law to develop a working knowledge in the field.
