India ranks first on the basis of suspension of 148 athletes.
This top spot is humiliating for India. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), set up by World Athletics, the apex global body in the field of athletics, has ranked India at the top of the list of 'doping-guilty countries' for the second consecutive year based on the number of doping cases. However, this is the fourth consecutive year that India has been among the top four 'guilty' countries on this list. The AIU has released the list for the year 2025 this week.
India is at the top of the list with 148 athletes suspended. This is followed by Russia, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine. Doping refers to the use of drugs or performance-enhancing (banned) drugs/methods by athletes to improve their performance in national and international competitions. The AIU has directed that blood and urine samples of athletes/players from all these countries be tested at regular intervals. It has also recommended that countries that violate this directive be de-recognized by World Athletics.
According to the charter of 'World Athletics', samples of 21 out of a hundred athletes should be taken before, during and after sports competitions at the provincial, national, continental or world level and after regular testing of these, action should be taken against the athlete/player whose sample comes out 'positive' (with the presence of doping elements). This action can be in the form of a suspension of one to five years and in serious cases (such as multiple arrests) a lifetime ban.
The AIU has based its ranking on the suspension of 148 Indian athletes/players under anti-doping provisions during the year 2025. It has said in its report that despite the strictness, the trend of dependence on doping among Indian athletes has not reduced. Since most of the players suspended under doping cases are related to track and field events (runners or jumpers), the AIU has also recommended that the status of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) be downgraded as a host of international competitions.
Along with this, every Indian athlete participating in every international competition has been made mandatory to be tested before and after their event. Such a practice means that every Indian athlete is under suspicion. Not exempting a famous person like Neeraj Chopra from the same exercise shows that even athletes considered to be the 'pride of the nation' are having to pay the price for the misdeeds of a few dishonest people. All this has been used at a time when India is claiming to be the rightful host of the 2036 Olympic Games. To give credibility to this claim, plans are being drawn up to spend billions of rupees on the construction of huge stadiums and state-of-the-art training and practice facilities.
Expensive contracts are also being signed with foreign coaches for various sports without hesitation. Discussions are going on between the government and the tourism industry to make the facilities of the tourism sector as well as sports future-oriented. Amidst such preparations, the AIU's giving India the top (or near) position in the list of 'fraudulent countries' for the fourth consecutive time is making the opponents of the Indian claim more vocal.
It cannot be ignored that the popularity of sports and sportspersons in India has also increased and the remuneration, awards, honors and privileges they receive are not inferior to those of players in wealthy countries. Similarly, Indian companies are not limited to cricket or hockey but are sponsoring every sport that is popular at the global level.
While such financial incentives have developed a professional mindset and approach among the players, they have also led ambitious athletes or coaches to take shortcuts like doping. The extent to which these shortcuts can be harmful is evidenced by the AIU's annual report. It is hoped that the Union Sports Ministry will take note of this report and will also hold the sports federations that do not take a strong stand against the doping culture accountable for their shortcomings.
