Doping Menace: India’s Sporting Ambitions Under a Cloud

Context:
India’s aspirations to emerge as a global sporting hub have been dealt a setback as the country topped the global doping charts for the third consecutive year, according to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) data for 2024. Despite enhanced testing and legislative reforms, the persistence of doping raises concerns over governance, ethics in sports, and international credibility, especially in the backdrop of India’s Olympic ambitions.

Key Highlights:

India’s Doping Record

• India ranked first globally in dope-positive cases for the third straight year.

• WADA 2024 data:

  • 260 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) out of 7,113 samples tested

  • Positivity rate: 3.6%

• This performance contrasts sharply with India’s ambition to host major global sporting events.

Domestic Testing Data

• NADA reported:

  • 7,068 tests conducted up to December 16

  • 110 positive cases

  • Positivity rate: 1.5%

• NADA attributes higher detection numbers to expanded testing coverage.

Impact on Global Sporting Aspirations

• India is scheduled to host:

  • 2029 World Police and Fire Games

  • 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games (Ahmedabad)

• Persistently high doping rates could:

  • Undermine India’s bid for the 2036 Olympic Games

  • Affect trust of global sporting bodies like the IOC

Systemic and Structural Issues

• Sports Ministry acknowledged that:

  • Government jobs through sports quota

  • Lucrative cash awards
    may incentivise athletes to use banned substances.

• Reports of athletes evading sample collection indicate:

  • Weak enforcement

  • Complicity of support staff and coaches

Institutional and Legal Response

• NADA initiatives:

  • Awareness campaigns

  • ‘Know Your Medicine’ mobile app

• National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025:

  • Seeks to strengthen anti-doping mechanisms

  • Align Indian law with WADA Code

• International Olympic Committee (IOC) pressure to:

  • Make NADA fully independent

  • Increase financial and operational autonomy

Relevant Prelims Points:

• Issue: High prevalence of doping in Indian sports.

• Key Data:

  • 260 AAFs (WADA, 2024)

  • India ranked first globally in doping cases

• Institutions:

  • WADA

  • NADA

• Tools & Measures:

  • ‘Know Your Medicine’ app

  • Anti-Doping Amendment Bill, 2025

• Impact:

  • Threat to Olympic hosting ambitions

  • Reputational damage

Relevant Mains Points:

• Governance and Ethics in Sports:

  • Doping reflects gaps in sports governance and athlete support systems.

• Science & Technology Dimension:

  • Role of testing, analytics, and surveillance in detecting banned substances.

• Policy Challenges:

  • Incentive structures encouraging unethical practices.

  • Weak accountability of coaches and support staff.

• Way Forward:

  • Ensure full independence and funding of NADA.

  • Reform sports incentive structures to prioritise long-term development.

  • Strengthen accountability of athlete support personnel.

  • Expand education at grassroots level.

  • Foster a culture of ethics and fair play in sports.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS Paper II – Governance: Institutional accountability, ethics in sports.

• GS Paper III – Science & Technology: Anti-doping science, testing mechanisms.

• Prelims: WADA, NADA, doping-related legislation.