Malaysia tables amendment to Sports Development Act to tighten oversight and anti-doping rules

In Kuala Lumpur, the Sports Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat, with Youth and Sports Minister Dr Taufiq Johari indicating it will be scheduled for a second reading later this sitting. The amendment targets the 1997 Sports Development Act, introducing mechanisms for managing assets and liabilities of sports bodies whose registration has been revoked, thereby safeguarding creditor interests.

It also expands the minister's power to issue regulations that ensure compliance with international anti-doping commitments and broader safe-sport standards. A new Section 19c would require any change to a sports body's name, address, or governing rules to receive prior approval from the commissioner, and non-compliance would constitute an offence. Additionally, the bill empowers the minister to declare a sports body unlawful if it threatens Malaysia's security, public order, or morality. The legislation is set to be debated further in one outlet parliamentary session.