WADA: India Tops Global Doping Violations for Third Year
According to Agency report, India has again topped the global list of doping violations, marking its third consecutive year as the world’s worst offender, according to a new report released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The international watchdog revealed that India’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) collected 7,113 urine and blood samples in 2024, with 260 returning positive results.
The findings come at a sensitive moment for the country, which is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and continues to push for its long‑term goal of staging the 2036 Olympic Games.
Athletics recorded the highest number of doping cases at 76, followed by weightlifting with 43 and wrestling with 29. The issue gained further attention in July when under‑23 wrestling champion and Paris Olympics quarter-finalist Reetika Hooda tested positive and was provisionally suspended.
Concerns deepened earlier this month during India’s University Games, where reports emerged of athletes abandoning track and field events upon learning that anti-doping officials were present.
India, home to 1.4 billion people, also led WADA’s global doping charts in 2022 and 2023. France followed in second place in 2024 with 91 positive cases, while Italy ranked third with 85. Russia and the United States each recorded 76 cases, with Germany at 54 and China at 43.
Responding to the report, NADA defended its efforts, stating that India has significantly strengthened its anti-doping framework.
The agency highlighted increased testing, as well as expanded education and awareness initiatives. As of December 16, NADA reported 7,068 tests conducted in 2025, with 110 positive results.
The WADA findings arrive months after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressed alarm over widespread doping in India and urged authorities to take corrective action.
In response, the Indian Olympic Association established a new anti-doping panel in August, while the government passed a national anti-doping bill aimed at improving enforcement, expanding testing capacity and safeguarding integrity in sport.
