Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra has stepped up to combat doping in Indian sports, emphasizing that education and awareness are vital to protecting athletes and maintaining the integrity of competition.
Concern Over Doping Violations
Expressing concern over the rising number of doping violations in India, Chopra told TOI that not every anti-doping violation stems from a deliberate intent to cheat. “Any doping violation is a concern because it impacts both the athlete and the sport. But not every case comes from an intention to gain unfair advantage. Sometimes athletes simply don’t know enough about what they are consuming or whom to trust for advice,” he said.
Launch of Clean Sport Initiative
The star javelin thrower’s remarks followed his foundation, the Neeraj Chopra Foundation (NCF), partnering with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to launch ‘Clean Sport’ — a first-of-its-kind athlete-led anti-doping awareness programme. The initiative aims to equip athletes, coaches, and support staff with knowledge about anti-doping regulations, supplements, and medications through educational content, digital resources, athlete engagement programmes, and outreach activities across the country.
Chopra said the idea emerged from interactions with young athletes. “Many athletes lack access to the right information on supplements, medications, and anti-doping rules. Years of hard work can be put at risk by a small mistake. Clean Sport was created as a platform where athletes can ask questions, clear doubts, and have honest conversations,” he added.
India’s Doping Problem
India has topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of countries with the highest number of doping offenders in recent years and was recently categorised as a high-risk nation by the Athletics Integrity Unit. The two-time Olympic medallist said he would remain actively involved in the campaign despite his busy schedule. “If my journey can help young athletes make better decisions and avoid mistakes, I want to contribute. I am very invested in this cause and this campaign for awareness and change will surely have my regular engagement,” he stated.
Values Behind Clean Sport
Highlighting the values behind the initiative, Chopra added: “Every athlete dreams of representing India. Success is never achieved overnight. It comes from years of discipline, sacrifice, and doing the right things consistently. Clean sport is not only about rules but also about creating a safe space where athletes can seek guidance and make informed choices.”
Role of Neeraj’s Wife Himani Mor
Neeraj’s wife Himani Mor, who oversees the NCF, stressed the importance of early intervention. “Young athletes are exposed to supplements, medications, and misinformation early in their careers. Anti-doping education often comes too late. We need to help athletes understand not just what is prohibited, but why clean sport and informed choices matter,” she said.
Himani further explained: “I think Indian sport is at a very important stage. We are producing more world-class athletes than ever before, and with that growth comes a greater responsibility to strengthen the culture around clean sport. While doping remains a serious concern in Indian sport, I see it as a challenge that can be addressed through greater awareness, clean sport education, and the right support systems. Our focus is less on the number of cases and more on ensuring that athletes have access to the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions throughout their careers. The vast majority of athletes want to compete fairly and achieve success through hard work. That's why investing in clean sport education from an early age is so important — it empowers athletes to understand their responsibilities, make informed choices, and protect their future.”
IOA Partnership
IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer informed that the national Olympic body has signed an MoU with NCF to support the Clean Sport campaign.
