How India became the world's worst doping ofHow India became the world's worst doping offenderfender: A crisis threatening sports
India has been identified as the world's worst doping offender in sports, with a high positivity rate for prohibited substances among athletes. This crisis poses a significant threat to the country's reputation as it prepares to host major international events like the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics.
Why it matters
The systemic doping issue undermines the credibility of Indian sports and creates a major hurdle for the nation's ambitions to host global sporting spectacles.
Shortly before the Commonwealth Games (CWG) began at Glasgow, a startling doping scandal rocked the weightlifting contingent. Four national campers - N Ajith (71kg), Sairaj Pardeshi (88kg), Harcharan Singh (110kg) and Vanshita Verma (77kg) - tested positive for prohibited substances during the qualification period, forcing them out of the games. The fallout extended beyond individual suspensions. Under CWG regulations, the repeated anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) resulted in India losing a weightlifting quota, denying Dilbagh Singh a place in the squad despite earning selection on merit.There was more to follow. Men’s 73kg judoka Arun Kumar, winner of last year’s Taipei Asian Open gold medal, was provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in