Context:

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), in its annual report published on 16 December 2025, ranked India as the world’s worst doping offender for the third consecutive year. India recorded 260 positive cases out of 7,113 samples collected in 2024. The findings come at a sensitive time, as India prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and harbours ambitions of hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.

Key Findings of the WADA Report:

• • India recorded the highest number of doping violations globally in 2024.
  • Athletics (76 cases) topped the list, followed by weightlifting (43) and wrestling (29).
  • Other countries with high violation numbers included France (91), Italy (85), Russia and the United States (76 each), Germany (54), and China (43).
  • India had also topped the global doping list in 2022 and 2023, indicating a persistent trend rather than an isolated aberration.

Recent Incidents Highlighting the Problem:

• • In July 2025, U-23 wrestling champion and Paris Olympics quarter-finalist Reetika Hooda tested positive for banned substances and was provisionally suspended.
  • During the Indian University Games, reports emerged of athletes avoiding competition venues due to the presence of anti-doping officials, reflecting fear, lack of awareness, and weak deterrence mechanisms.

Reasons behind India’s High Doping Numbers:

• • Overrepresentation of Strength Sports: Athletics, weightlifting, and wrestling rely heavily on strength and endurance, making them more susceptible to anabolic steroid abuse.
  • Livelihood and Performance Pressure: Government jobs, cash rewards, and social mobility linked to sporting success encourage risk-taking behaviour, particularly among young athletes.
  • Low Awareness at the Grassroots Level: There is limited understanding of prohibited substances, Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), and the risks of contaminated supplements.
  • Unregulated Supplement Market: Easy access to unverified nutritional supplements, often lacking proper labelling and quality control, increases inadvertent doping risks.
  • Institutional Limitations: Despite expanded testing, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) faces capacity constraints given India’s vast and decentralised athlete base.

Implications for India:

• • Reputational Damage: India’s credibility as a responsible sporting nation is undermined.
  • Hosting Ambitions at Risk: Persistent doping concerns could adversely affect India’s prospects of hosting major global sporting events.
  • Athlete Careers Jeopardised: Young athletes face lengthy bans, derailing careers and leading to a loss of sporting talent.
  • Increased International Scrutiny: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged India to “set its house in order”.

About WADA:

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is an independent international organisation that promotes, coordinates, and monitors the global fight against doping in sport.

Establishment and Structure:

• • Established: 1999
  • Founded by: A partnership between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and governments worldwide
  • Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
  • Mission: To protect athlete health and ensure fairness, integrity, and clean competition in sport

Conclusion:

India’s repeated top ranking in global doping violations reflects systemic weaknesses rather than isolated misconduct. While increased testing has improved detection, sustainable progress will require grassroots education, stronger institutional capacity, regulatory oversight of supplements, and ethical reform. As India aspires to emerge as a global sporting powerhouse, combating doping must be treated as a governance and integrity challenge central to the nation’s sporting future.