Doping in India: In a disheartening revelation for Indian sports, the country recorded the highest percentage of failed dope tests among nations that tested more than 2000 samples in 2022. This information was disclosed in the 2022 Testing Figures Report released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Doping in India: Still a problem with no cure
India tested a total of 3865 samples, including urine and blood, during the period. Out of these, 125 returned with adverse analytical findings. This amounts to 3.2 per cent of the samples, a figure that has raised concerns about the integrity of sports in the country.
In terms of the number of samples tested, India was 11th on the list. However, the number of doping violations was higher than in major sporting nations like Russia (85), the USA (84), Italy (73), and France (72). This indicates a serious issue that needs immediate attention and action.
The report also revealed a sharp rise in doping cases from the 2021-22 cycle (39) to 2022-23 (142) with athletics topping the AAF charts. While 49 athletics samples returned a positive test report, weightlifting was next (22) followed by wrestling (17). This trend is alarming and calls for stringent measures to curb doping in sports.
South Africa returned the next highest percentage of adverse findings – 2.9 per cent from 2033 tested samples. The third place was taken by Kazakhstan with 1.9 per cent of its testing pool of 2174 samples returning adverse findings. The fourth highest percentage came from Norway and the USA.
China tested the highest number of samples – 19,228 – during the period with an adverse findings percentage of 0.2 per cent. Germany tested 13,653 samples of which 0.3 per cent tested positive for banned substances. Russia, which has been suspended by the International Olympic Committee for repeated doping violations, tested 10,186 samples with an adverse analytical finding percentage of 0.8 per cent.
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli stated that the Annual Testing Figures Report is the most comprehensive overview of all doping control samples. He noted that the number of anti-doping tests in the testing figures continues to increase across the board and is the closest to the pre-pandemic levels (2019).
The high percentage of failed dope tests in India is a cause for concern. It not only tarnishes the image of the country in the global sports arena but also raises questions about the effectiveness of anti-doping measures in place. There is an urgent need for stringent anti-doping policies, rigorous testing, and comprehensive athlete education to address this issue.
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