MONTREAL, Canada (Kashmir English): India tops the rankings of world sports drug cheats for a third straight year, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
India’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) collected 7,113 urine and blood samples out of which 260 tested positive in 2024, the international watchdog said in its annual report.
The findings come when the South Asian country is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games — an event seen as a stepping stone for the country’s ambition of hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
Athletics, 76 in number, made up the highest of positive doping cases in 2024 followed by weightlifting (43) and wrestling (29).
In July this year, under-23 wrestling champion and Paris Olympics quarter-finalist Reetika Hooda tested positive and was provisionally suspended.
At India’s University Games earlier in December, there were reports of just one athlete showing up for some track and field events while others fled because of the presence of anti-doping officials.
Number one doping offender in 2022 and 2023 as well
In a big blow to the nation, India, the country of 1.4 billion people, was also ranked number one doping offender in 2022 and 2023.
French athletes accounted for the next highest number on the list in 2024 with 91 positive cases, while Italy remained third with 85.
Russia and the United States come next at 76 cases each followed by Germany (54) and China (43).
NADA, however, defended India’s fight against doping after the report. “In recent years, India has witnessed a significant strengthening of its anti-doping framework,” it said in a statement a day after releasing the report.
“To tackle the menace of doping in sports, NADA India has not only increased the number of tests but also increased the emphasis on education and awareness.”
NADA further said that up to December 16, 2025, India conducted 7,068 tests this year with 110 positive cases.
The WADA report comes months after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) raised concerns about widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs in India and urged the country to set its house in order.
