Doping in Sports

Posted 21 May 2024

3 min read

Why in the news?

India recorded highest percentage of doping offenders (3.26%), according to the 2022 testing figures released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

More about the news

India is followed by South Africa and Bangkok in the percentage of doping offenders.
In 2022, nearly all drug classes saw an increase in the number of individual Prohibited Substances compared to 2021.

About Doping

It is the act of consuming banned artificial and often illegal substances to gain an advantage over others in sporting competitions.
Doping may also include other methods like increasing oxygen in the bloodstream through blood transfusions.

Description: A diagram of a different type of drug

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Reasons for high doping incidents in Indian sport

Recognition and rewards: Winners get instant recognition, financial rewards and government jobs.
Easy accessibility and availability: Despite regulations and efforts to curb banned substance distribution, these substances remain readily available in various forms.
Lack of comprehensive education and awareness: Athletes are not well aware of the risks and consequences of doping to the health or integrity of sports, particularly at the grassroots level.
Lack of sports infrastructure and support: This drives athletes to seek alternative means, including doping, to get an edge over their athletes from better-equipped nations.
Societal pressure: Sport as a career is often looked down upon in India, making Athletes feel pressured by coaches, family and society to perform well.
Ineffective testing and monitoring: Smaller competitions in many parts of the country have no anti-doping officials.

Efforts to stop doping in India

National Anti-Doping Act, 2022: To strengthen the framework and mechanisms for carrying out the doping control program.
- It provided for the constitution of National Anti-Doping agency as a statutory body.
National Anti-Doping Agency(NADA): An autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports to implement the anti-doping programme in India, in line with the World Anti-doping Code 2021.
- It was set up as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 in 2005.
Key Initiatives of NADA:
- Program for Education and Awareness on Anti-Doping in Sports (PEADS) for education and awareness regarding doping.
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with South Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization (SARADO) to increase the Regional Cooperation in anti doping in sport.
- Anti-Doping helpline number for the athletes and athlete support personnel to provide information about Anti-Doping rules and guidelines.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985: It prohibits any individual from engaging in any activity consisting of production, cultivation, sale, purchase, transport, consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
India has signed and ratified the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization International Convention against Doping.

Way forward to prevent doping in India

Education: Athletes of all ages need to be educated about the dangers of banned substances.
Regulating supplements: Food safety and standards Authority of India (FSSAI) can issue certification to supplements that they do not contain banned substances.
Enhance testing and monitoring: To act as a deterrent, NADA can increase the frequency and quality of doping tests, both in-competition and out-of-competition.
Strengthening sports infrastructure: Enhancing availability of trained athlete support personnel, along with advanced instruments.
Developing positive attitude towards sports in society: There is a need to address societal barriers and biases to reduce pressure on athletes.