India Placed in Highest-Risk Doping Category by World Athletics Integrity Unit
In a significant development that has sent shockwaves through the Indian sports community, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the independent body of World Athletics responsible for managing integrity issues, has placed India in its highest-risk doping category. This decision, announced on Monday, represents a major setback for Indian athletics and could lead to increased scrutiny and potential consequences for athletes competing in global events.
From Category B to Category A: A Troubling Escalation
Under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, the AIU Board categorizes member federations based on their perceived doping risk to the sport. India has now been moved from Category B to Category A, which signifies the highest level of risk. This classification change reflects growing concerns about the effectiveness of India's anti-doping measures and the persistent prevalence of doping violations among its athletes.
"The doping situation in India has been high risk for a long time. Unfortunately, the quality of domestic anti-doping programme is not proportionate to the risk," stated AIU chair David Howman in an official press release. "While Athletics Federation of India has favoured anti-doping reforms within India, not enough has changed. AIU will now work with Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to achieve reforms (just the way) we've done with other 'Category A' member-federations," he added, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to address the issue.
Consistently High Doping Violations Prompt Action
The AIU's decision is based on what it describes as a "consistently extremely high" risk of doping in India, supported by alarming statistics on Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) in athletics. According to the release, India has ranked among the top two countries for ADRVs from 2022 to 2025:
- In 2022, India recorded 48 ADRVs, ranking 2nd globally.
- In 2023, the number rose to 63 ADRVs, maintaining the 2nd position.
- In 2024, India recorded 71 ADRVs, climbing to the top spot as number 1.
- For 2025, India has already recorded 30 ADRVs so far, again ranking 1st.
In contrast, the Bahrain Athletics Association will move from Category A to Category B, highlighting the effectiveness of its anti-doping reforms and serving as a benchmark for improvement.
AFI Reacts with Concern and Calls for Internal Measures
The news has deeply concerned the leadership of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), which had previously discussed doping issues at its recent Annual General Meeting in Kohima. An AFI official, speaking to TOI, expressed the gravity of the situation: "It's a big concern. That's the reason why we made it mandatory for top athletes to compete in more meets. This was aimed at preventing athletes from taking banned drugs during extended training periods and then producing stunning results in one meet."
The official also pointed to challenges with junior athletes, noting, "The high number of India doping cases is also a result of a lot of junior athletes getting caught for using banned drugs. Though they are under AFI, they are not strictly under our watch," indicating gaps in oversight and monitoring.
Calls for Overhaul of National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)
With the AIU highlighting Bahrain's successful establishment of an independent National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) as a model, attention has turned to India's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). Experts and sources are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of NADA to address systemic issues.
Sources revealed to TOI that "There are quite a few officers who are in the same post for more than 10 years. That could bring complacency and even corruption," suggesting that stagnation within the agency may hinder effective anti-doping efforts.
Additional concerns include:
- Manpower Quality: NADA must prioritize ensuring quality staffing to enhance its testing and enforcement capabilities.
- Testing Plan Deficiencies: Reports indicate a lack of proper testing strategies, with some provided testing numbers being incorrect.
- High Attrition Rates: NADA has faced significant turnover among contractual staff, with trained personnel leaving within a few years, undermining continuity and expertise.
This categorization places India under increased international scrutiny and underscores the urgent need for robust anti-doping reforms to protect the integrity of Indian athletics and ensure fair competition on the global stage.
