WADA flags India on doping list
WADA says India has topped its list of doping offenders for three consecutive years, prompting renewed focus on anti-doping systems and athlete education. WADA has also expanded athlete-facing resources through its 'Athlete Corner' initiative to improve testing awareness and compliance. (dailygazette.com) (fih.hockey)
India has topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of anti-doping rule violators for three straight years, and WADA used a visit to New Delhi this week to press for tougher enforcement. (wtop.com) WADA president Witold Bańka said on April 16 that India reports the highest positive rate among major nations, even as its National Anti-Doping Agency doubled annual testing to about 8,000 samples in 2025 from about 4,000 in 2019. (wtop.com) The agency’s official 2023 Anti-Doping Rule Violations report, published on Dec. 19, 2025, recorded 2,005 violations worldwide, up from 1,652 in 2022. WADA said those cases involved athletes and support personnel from 124 nations across 94 sports and disciplines. (wada-ama.org) Indian media reports based on WADA’s country tables said India led the 2023 list with 222 anti-doping rule violations after leading 2022 as well, and later led again in 2024 with 260 cases from 7,113 samples. WADA’s public reports define those violations as confirmed breaches of the anti-doping code, not just initial positive tests. (sportstar.thehindu.com) (thehindu.com) (wada-ama.org) Bańka said India’s problem is not limited to testing athletes. He said performance-enhancing drugs and steroids are “readily available” in India, and WADA’s investigators are working with India’s Central Bureau of Investigation and other agencies to target suppliers and trafficking networks. (wtop.com) (aljazeera.com) That pressure lands as India prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and continues its push to stage the 2036 Olympics. Bańka said those ambitions require World Anti-Doping Agency compliance and stronger anti-doping systems. (wtop.com) (newindianexpress.com) India’s anti-doping officials say the response has two tracks: more targeted testing and more education for athletes. NADA director general Anant Kumar said the agency is also trying to improve transparency and efficiency so athletes trust the system more. (wtop.com) WADA has been expanding its athlete-facing education tools alongside the crackdown. Its ADEL platform offers anti-doping courses and downloadable resources for athletes and support staff, and its athlete-engagement program says athletes now have a dedicated channel for guidance on rules, rights and responsibilities. (adel.wada-ama.org) (wada-ama.org 1) (wada-ama.org 2) Other sports bodies are building similar portals. The International Hockey Federation launched an “Athletes’ Corner” page in January 2025 with sections on anti-doping, safeguarding, welfare, mental health and career development. (fih.hockey) WADA’s message in New Delhi was that higher case numbers can reflect better detection, not weaker resolve. The next test for India is whether more testing, more education and more action against suppliers bring the rate down before its next round of global hosting bids. (wtop.com)
