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India in ‘extremely high’ doping risk bracket: Athletics Integrity Unit
TL;DR
India has been classified as having an 'extremely high' risk of doping by the Athletics Integrity Unit, requiring stricter anti-doping measures for its athletes. The Athletics Federation of India now joins other nations like Russia and Kenya in this highest-risk category.
Key points
- India classified as 'extremely high' risk for doping
- Tougher anti-doping measures required for Indian athletes
- Athletics Federation of India moves from Category B to A
- India joins countries like Russia and Kenya in high-risk category
Mentioned in this story
Athletics Integrity UnitAthletics Federation of IndiaIndiaRussiaBelarusEthiopiaKenyaNigeriaUkraine
India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, seen as a stepping stone for its ambition of staging the 2036 Olympics [File: Adam Pretty/Getty Images]
Indian athletes must now meet tougher anti-doping requirements after their federation was placed in the highest-risk category of World Athletics, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has said.
India was elevated on Monday to a list of nations where there is an “extremely high” risk of doping.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) joins the likes of Russia, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine in the AIU’s highest rating of Category A after being moved up from Category B.
Category A means India’s athletes must now comply with more stringent anti-doping requirements.
The world’s most populous country ranked in the top two for the most anti-doping violations in athletics between 2022 and 2025, the AIU said.
“The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk,” AIU chair David Howman said.
“While the AFI has advocated for anti-doping reforms within India, not enough has changed.
“The AIU will now work with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of the sport of athletics, as we have done with other Category A member federations.”
The AIU is an independent body tasked with fighting corruption and wrongdoing, including doping, in athletics.
India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, seen as a stepping stone for its ambition of staging the 2036 Olympics.
In the latest doping case in Indian athletics, Asian Games gold medallist archer Prathamesh Jawkar has been banned for two years.
He accepted the punishment for a whereabouts failure and will miss the Asian Games in September-October in Japan.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Witold Banka, who was in New Delhi last week, said India is the biggest producer of performance-enhancing drugs.
However, he noted that India consistently leading the list of drug cheats will not hamper its chances of hosting prestigious global sporting events.
AFI spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla said the federation was working with the AIU, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the National Anti-Doping Agency to address the issue.
“AFI has got a strong plan , and we are all for criminalising doping in this country,” Sumariwalla, also a World Athletics vice president, told the Reuters news agency.
Q&A
What does it mean for India to be in the 'extremely high' doping risk category?
Being in the 'extremely high' doping risk category means that Indian athletes will face stricter anti-doping regulations and monitoring due to increased concerns about doping practices.
Which countries are classified alongside India in the highest-risk doping category?
India joins Russia, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ukraine in the Athletics Integrity Unit's highest-risk Category A for doping.
How will this classification affect Indian athletes ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games?
The classification will impose tougher anti-doping requirements on Indian athletes, potentially impacting their preparation and participation in the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
