India's struggle with doping in sports continues as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report reveals that the nation recorded the highest number of doping violations globally in 2024. With 260 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) from over 7,000 samples tested by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA), India's positivity rate stands at 3.6%, exceeding that of several sporting powerhouses, including the USA, China, UK, and Russia.
NADA's National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) tested 7,113 samples in the past year, comprising 537 blood and 6,576 urine samples. In comparison, China, while testing a significantly larger 24,214 samples, reported only 43 positive findings, resulting in a mere 0.2% AAF rate. Other countries that conducted more tests than India include Germany (15,081), France (11,744), Russia (10,514), Italy (9,304) and UK (8,273). The United States recorded 6,592 samples with an AAF% of 1.1%.
The report indicates that only nine countries tested over 5,000 samples, with Japan achieving a low 0.1% positivity rate from 6,117 tests. Behind India, France reported the second-highest number of AAFs with 91, followed by Italy (85), Russia and the USA (76 each), and Germany (54).
Despite the concerning figures, NADA views the high numbers as a result of more rigorous and transparent testing. A senior NADA official acknowledged the issue, stating that while the high numbers are a cause for concern, intensified testing and proactive measures are being implemented to address the problem. The official also highlighted expansive education programs for athletes aimed at preventing the use of banned substances.
In 2023, India also topped the list with the highest positivity rate among countries which analyzed 5,000 or more samples. The country's positivity rate for banned substances was 3.8%, with 214 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) from 5,606 samples. This was a notable increase from 2022, which saw a 3.2% AAF rate from 3,865 tests. Globally, out of 204,809 tests conducted in 2023, 1,820 were positive for banned drugs, with India's 214 cases accounting for over 11% of the total. Delhi's National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) processed 6,077 samples, including those from neighboring countries, and had an AAF rate of 3.63%, the highest among the 30 WADA-accredited facilities worldwide. Athletics led in positive cases with 61 AAFs from 1,223 samples.
These developments have prompted authorities to revisit the 'National Anti-Doping Bill 2022' to combat the doping issue, incorporating suggestions from WADA to avoid potential suspension of NADA.
