India’s dubious hat-trick: On top again among countries with most dope offenders

At 3.6 per cent, India’s positivity ratio, too, was among the highest in the world. The National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) collected 7,113 urine and blood samples of which 260 returned positive. China, in contrast, conducted 24,214 tests and had 43 positive cases. In fact, five countries – apart from China – tested their athletes more rigorously than India. They were Germany (15,081 tests; 54 positives), France (11,744 tests; 91 positives), Russia (10,514 tests; 76 positives), Italy (9,304 tests; 85 positives) and the UK (8,273 tests; 30 positives).

In 2023, too, India had topped the global doping charts, with 213 athletes testing positive. The year-on-year increase in the number of athletes consuming banned drugs to boost their athletic performances points at a worrying trend and undermines the credibility of achievements.

The world body’s data shows that nearly 1 in every 5 Indian athletes tested by the national anti-doping watchdog during a competition was dope positive. The concerns of rampant instances of doping resurfaced earlier this month at the Khelo India University Games, where — in some events, like women’s 400m or men’s 400m hurdles — there was just one athlete at the starting line as others fled the arena presumably because of the presence of anti-doping officials.

Athletics had the highest number of doping cases last year. According to WADA, 76 out of the 260 Indian dope cheats were track and field athletes. Weightlifting was second with 43 cases while wrestling had 29 instances.

The NADA said that while the increase in positive cases ‘may appear concerning’, it is ‘essential to underscore that the figures are a direct outcome of India’s intensified anti-doping efforts’.

“In recent years, India has witnessed a significant strengthening of its anti-doping framework. To tackle the menace of doping in sports, NADA India has not only increased the number of tests but also increased the emphasis on education and awareness,” the government-funded body said in a statement.

The NADA added that the number of dope tests have gone up from 4,004 in 2019 to 7,113 in 2024 and underlined that the positivity rate has decreased during the corresponding period from 5.6 percent to 3.6 percent.

It added that as on December 16, 2025, the number of tests conducted this year was 7,068 with 110 positive cases – coming to 1.5 percent.

The WADA report comes months after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) raised the doping issue when an Indian delegation visited Lausanne to make a pitch to host the 2036 Olympics. The Indian delegation was headed by Gujarat’s deputy chief minister and sports minister Harsh Sanghavi, and IOA president PT Usha. It also included high-ranking bureaucrats from the central and state governments, senior IOA officials, private consultants and corporate honchos.

During the meeting, the IOC flagged the doping menace in India and asked the authorities to get their house in order.

Over the course of a 18-year-long career, Mihir Vasavda has covered 2010 FIFA World Cup; the London 2012, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games; Asian Games in 2014 and 2022; Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2018; Hockey World Cups in 2018 and 2023 and the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup. ... Read More

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