New Delhi: India continues to grapple with a severe doping problem, as highlighted in the latest report from the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada). According to recently released 2023 testing figures, India has again been ranked first worldwide for the highest number of dope offenders.
Out of 5606 urine and blood samples collected, 214 adverse analytical findings (AAFs) were reported, putting the country’s positivity rate for prohibited substances at 3.8 per cent. This reflects a rise compared to 2022, when 3865 tests yielded an AAF rate of 3.2 percent.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! These developments have led authorities to revive the ‘National Anti-Doping Bill 2022’ with an aim to stamp out the doping menace. An amended version of the bill is set to be introduced in an upcoming session of Parliament.
Sources indicate that the sports ministry, after taking on board Wada’s suggestions, is moving forward with crucial changes in the bill. Notably, the plan to create a statutory ‘National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports’ comprising a chairman and two members has been scrapped due to concerns it would have led to increased govt interference.
Following Wada’s strong objection, the bill no longer criminalises athlete’s involvement with organised doping syndicates, a clause that had previously allowed for imprisonment up to four years or a fine of Rs 10 lakh for offenders.
The original bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Dec 17, 2021 by then sports minister Anurag Thakur, and was passed on July 27, 2022 with amendments suggested by the Parliamentary Standing Committee and other stakeholders. It went to the Rajya Sabha on July 28, 2022 and was passed on Aug 3, 2022. Now, under the guidance of sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya, a revised version is ready for fresh introduction.
Ministry officials said, “The bill is ready and will be brought back to the Parliament after a restructuring. Objections raised by Wada have been addressed and required changes made. If these were not incorporated, Wada could have suspended Nada due to govt interference.”
According to the 2023 Wada data, athletics continued to shame the country’s anti-doping efforts, accounting for 61 AAFs from 1223 tested samples, including 567 in-competition and 539 out-of-competition urine samples, plus 117 blood samples. One AAF emerged from a blood sample. Weightlifting produced 38 AAFs from 451 samples, with powerlifting and wrestling contributing 28 and 10 AAFs, respectively.
Quiz:
Who's that IPL player? India’s positivity rate exceeded those of China (28,197 samples; 0.2%), USA (6,798 samples; 1%), France (11,368; 0.9%), Germany (15,153; 0.4%), and Russia (10,395; 1%).
Aside from India’s 214 AAFs, other countries logged 105 (France), 99 (Russia), 66 (USA), 60 (China), and 57 (Germany) dope cases.
Of the 204,809 tests conducted globally in 2023, 1,820 were positive for banned substances, with India accounting for over 11% of these – an unwanted record.
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