India has been identified as the nation with the most doping violations for the third consecutive year by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This "dubious hat-trick" comes as WADA released its annual report, which showed that 260 Indian athletes tested positive for banned substances in 2024.
The report stated that India's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) collected 7,113 urine and blood samples, with 260 samples testing positive. This gives India a positivity rate of 3.6%, which is among the highest in the world. In comparison, China conducted 24,214 tests and had only 43 positive cases.
The sports most affected by doping in India are athletics (76 cases), weightlifting (43 cases), and wrestling (29 cases). In July, under-23 wrestling champion and Paris Olympics quarter-finalist Reetika Hooda was provisionally suspended after testing positive. There were also reports of athletes fleeing India's University Games to avoid anti-doping officials.
NADA has defended its anti-doping efforts, stating that India has significantly strengthened its anti-doping framework in recent years. NADA claims to have increased the number of tests and placed greater emphasis on education and awareness. According to NADA, 7,068 tests were conducted this year up to December 16, with 110 positive cases.
The WADA report has surfaced months after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voiced concerns about the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs in India. The IOC urged India to improve its anti-doping measures. In response, the Indian Olympic Association formed a new anti-doping panel in August after the IOC raised concerns about India's poor record. The government also passed a new national anti-doping bill to enhance enforcement, expand testing facilities, and "ensure the highest standards of integrity" in sports.
This news is a setback for India, which is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and has ambitions to host the 2036 Olympics. The IOC would want to ensure that any country awarded the Games has a robust doping policy and governance.
Despite its large population, India has only won 10 Olympic gold medals. Some experts suggest that the desire to win and escape poverty may be factors in why some Indian athletes resort to doping. Success in sports can lead to government jobs, providing financial security.
According to sports medicine expert Saranjeet Singh, the increase in violations is partly due to stricter testing, but some athletes use banned drugs as a shortcut to achieve higher performance levels.
