Why in the News?

• India has been flagged as a high-risk country for doping by global athletics authorities, raising concerns ahead of its Olympic ambitions.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Doping in Sports (Meaning, Impact, Steps Taken by Govt, etc.)
• News Summary

Doping in Sports

• Doping refers to the use of prohibited substances or methods by athletes to enhance performance unfairly.
• It violates the principles of fair play and sporting integrity. The global framework governing anti-doping is led by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
• Prohibited substances include anabolic steroids, stimulants, hormones, and masking agents. Prohibited methods include blood doping and gene doping.
• These substances artificially improve strength, endurance, or recovery, giving athletes an unfair advantage.
• Doping is detected through urine and blood tests conducted both during competitions and outside competitions.
• Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) include not only testing positive but also refusal to test, tampering with samples, and trafficking banned substances.
• The consequences of doping include suspension, disqualification, loss of medals, and reputational damage. In serious cases, criminal penalties may also be imposed depending on national laws.
• Doping also has serious health risks. It can lead to hormonal imbalance, cardiovascular problems, liver damage, and psychological disorders.
• Therefore, anti-doping is not only about fairness but also about athlete welfare.

Steps Taken by the Government to Control Doping

• India has taken multiple institutional, legal, and administrative steps to tackle doping in sports.
• The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is the primary body responsible for implementing anti-doping rules in India.
  • It conducts testing, manages results, and ensures compliance with WADA standards.
• India has adopted the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022.
  • This law provides statutory backing to anti-doping efforts and aligns India’s framework with international obligations.
  • It strengthens investigation, adjudication, and enforcement mechanisms.
• Testing infrastructure has been expanded. More in-competition and out-of-competition tests are conducted to detect violations early. There is also a focus on expanding testing at state and district levels.
• Educational initiatives have been launched to create awareness among athletes, coaches, and support staff. These programmes aim to prevent inadvertent doping due to lack of knowledge.
• The government is also considering the criminalisation of doping.
• This includes action against coaches, suppliers, and networks involved in distributing banned substances. Such measures aim to create a strong deterrent effect.
• Coordination between stakeholders has improved. The Ministry of Sports, NADA, and sports federations are working together to strengthen monitoring and enforcement.

News Summary

• India’s doping challenge has come under global scrutiny, especially in the context of its bid to host the 2036 Olympics.
• According to the report, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has classified India as a high-risk country for doping and downgraded its athletics body.
• This reclassification means stricter anti-doping requirements for Indian athletes. National-level athletes will now undergo more rigorous testing, including pre-competition and out-of-competition checks.

Doping Menace in India: Statistics

• The data highlights a worrying trend. India recorded 48 Anti-Doping Rule Violations in 2022, 63 in 2023, and 71 in 2024, making it the worst performer globally in 2024.
• Further, India had 260 athletes testing positive for banned substances in 2024. This was the highest in the world, with no other country reporting triple-digit violations.
• India’s positivity rate stood at 3.6%, which is significantly higher compared to countries like China, which conducted more tests but reported far fewer violations.

Observations made by AIU

• The AIU noted that India’s anti-doping programme is not proportionate to the scale of the doping problem. It emphasised the need for reforms, including better intelligence gathering and more widespread testing.
• Suggestions include criminalising doping and targeting the supply chains of banned substances.
• Significance
  • The downgrade places India in “Category A”, which requires stricter compliance with global anti-doping norms. This includes mandatory testing protocols for athletes participating in international events.
  • The issue is particularly significant as it could impact India’s credibility and preparedness to host global sporting events like the Olympics.