India Stands No.1 In Global Doping Offenders List Again, Athletics Crisis Deepens

Published 2 July 2026 · sports

India Stands No.1 In Global Doping Offenders List Again, Athletics Crisis Deepens Published By, Last Updated: July 02, 2026, 11:44 IST India continues to top

India Stands No.1 In Global Doping Offenders List Again, Athletics Crisis Deepens Published By, Last Updated: July 02, 2026, 11:44 IST India continues to top the Athletics Integrity Unit's global list of doping offenders with 162 cases, months after being classified as a high-risk nation by World Athletics. Rapid Read (AFP Photo) India has once again topped the Athletics Integrity Unit’s (AIU) global list of doping offenders, underlining the scale of the country’s ongoing anti-doping challenge. The latest AIU figures show 162 Indians currently serving sanctions for doping or related anti-doping rule violations, the highest tally among all nations. Kenya is second with 148 names, while Russia sits third with more than 60 cases. The list is not limited to athletes who have tested positive for banned substances.

It also includes individuals sanctioned for non-doping offences such as tampering with the doping control process, evading testing, trafficking prohibited substances, or repeatedly failing to provide whereabouts information, all of which carry the same penalties under anti-doping regulations. The AIU, World Athletics’ independent integrity body, oversees anti-doping matters involving international-level athletes and their support personnel. India first overtook Kenya in April this year and has retained the unwanted distinction in subsequent updates, including the latest June list. Earlier this year, World Athletics designated India as a Category A nation — the highest doping-risk classification under its Anti-Doping Rules. The decision followed India’s consistent appearance among the world’s worst offenders over recent years. “Unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk," AIU Chair David Howman had said while announcing the reclassification.

India has ranked among the top two countries for Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) in athletics every year since 2022. According to AIU data, the country recorded 48 ADRVs in 2022 (second globally), 63 in 2023 (second), 71 in 2024 (first) and 30 in 2025, again ranking first. Under World Athletics regulations, Category A member federations face the strictest anti-doping obligations. They must maintain a comprehensive annual testing programme that complies with international standards and ensures national team athletes are adequately tested before competing at major events such as the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, and other elite competitions. The AIU reviews each federation’s risk category every three years but retains the authority to upgrade or downgrade nations at any point if circumstances warrant. (with PTI inputs) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Siddarth Sriram After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas.