Olympics bid near, athletics watchdog flags ‘extremely high’ risk of doping in India, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has downgraded the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) due to "extremely high" doping risk among Indian athletes.
• Indian track and field athletes will face stricter anti-doping stipulations, including mandatory tests before major championships.
• Between 2002 and 2025, India was among the top two countries with the most Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) in athletics.
• In 2024, 260 Indian athletes tested positive for prohibited performance-enhancing drugs, the highest globally, with a positivity ratio of 3.6%.

Detailed Insights:

• The AIU's decision could negatively impact India's bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, as India's doping record was previously highlighted as a concern by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
• Despite the AFI's advocacy for anti-doping reforms, the AIU believes the domestic program's quality is insufficient to address the high doping risk.
• The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reported India had the highest number of dope cheats across all sports in 2024, underscoring the severity of the issue.
• Proposed measures to combat doping include criminalizing the practice, increasing out-of-competition testing, and enhancing intelligence gathering at state and district levels.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Doping: The use of prohibited substances or methods to enhance athletic performance.
• Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs): Actions that violate anti-doping regulations, leading to sanctions.
• Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU): An independent body established by World Athletics to combat doping in athletics.