India’s Doping Numbers Stay High Despite Record Testing

• Pavithra K M

TL;DR India remains among the top countries for doping violations, according to the latest WADA report. While other major sporting nations have managed to bring down their violation rates over the years, India’s numbers have stayed persistently high despite increased testing.

Context
India’s sporting achievements have grown steadily in recent years. The country is winning more medals than before. But alongside this progress, concerns about the use of performance-enhancing drugs have also increased. The recently released report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has once again brought the issue into focus, placing India among the countries with the highest number of doping violations worldwide. The findings have renewed debate over the effectiveness of India’s anti-doping framework and the pressures faced by athletes at various levels of competition. In this story, we look at the scale of doping in the country and what steps are being taken to address it.

Who compiles this data?
The data is centrally compiled by WADA using the Anti-Doping Administration & Management System (ADAMS). WADA-accredited laboratories upload test results directly into this secure database, while National Anti-Doping Agencies (NADOs) and International Federations input the corresponding sample collection data. WADA then aggregates and verifies these records to produce the global Annual Testing Figures Report, which serves as the official statistical record of testing volumes and Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) by nation and sport. The AAF is a laboratory report confirming the presence of a prohibited substance in a sample.

Where can I download clean & structured data related to India’s performance in sports?
Clean, structured, and ready-to-use detailed datasets on India’s performance in sporting events such as the Olympics, Paralympics, and Asian games are available on Dataful. Exclusive datasets are also available on incidents of sexual harassment cases reported against coaches and staff at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Dataful.

Key Insights

• India continues to top the global list of doping offenders. According to the 2024 report, it is the only nation in the world to record triple-digit Adverse Analytical Findings.
• While India has ramped up testing to record levels (7,000+ samples), the positivity rate remains alarmingly high at 3.6%. This indicates that doping is not just an anomaly but a systemic issue within the sporting culture.
• There is a massive disparity between India and other major sporting powers. While global leaders like China and Germany conduct 2-3 times more tests than India, their athletes return positive results at a rate of less than 1%.
• Historically, nations like France, Italy, and Ukraine featured prominently on doping lists, recording a higher share of AAFs. However, these countries have successfully curbed their violation rates over the years, whereas India’s figures have progressively worsened.

• Athletics, Weightlifting, and Wrestling are responsible for over 55% of all adverse findings since 2021. Athletics alone accounts for nearly 30% (230 cases) of the total violations between 2021 and 2025 (till 08 December 2025).
• While the majority of cases are found in certain sports, the issue spans a broad range of disciplines. During the last five years, India has reported at least one doping case in 54 different sports.
• Athletics recorded a consistent annual increase in violations, rising from 16 in 2021 to a peak of 76 in 2024. However, data for 2025 indicates a change in this trend, with the number of cases decreasing to 30 for the year. Similarly, a drastic decline in cases in Weightlifting is evident. After recording 43 cases in 2024, the sport registered just 5 cases in 2025.

Why does it matter?
Doping erodes fair competition and threatens India’s credibility in global sports. While several countries have successfully reduced their violation rates, India continues to struggle despite expanding its testing network. Recognising this, the government stated in its official responses in parliament that it has strengthened its anti-doping framework through the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), increased testing and education drives. Further, it stated that the government introduced the “Know Your Medicine” app to help athletes verify substances. It has also partnered with agencies such as FSSAI and the National Forensic Science University to monitor supplements and ensure compliance. Continued focus on enforcement and prevention will be key if India wants to curb doping and maintain the integrity of its sporting achievements.

Key Numbers

• Samples tested:
  1,186 (2020) → 7,113 (2024)

• Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs):
  55 (2020) → 260 (2024)

• Positivity rate:
  Fluctuated between 2% and 5.6% over the past decade; 3.7% in 2024

• Top sports with violations:
  Athletics (≈30% of cases), Weightlifting, and Wrestling (together over 55%)

• Breadth of the issue:
  Doping cases reported in 54 sports since 2021

Note: Featured image generated with ChatGPT