In India, doping is no longer confined to disciplines such as weightlifting or wrestling alone.
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India’s dream of hosting the Olympics in 2036 and other prestigious international sporting events in the near future may remain unfulfilled if the country fails to control the doping menace at the earliest. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already discussed the issue with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), considering the gravity of the situation. It is now the responsibility of the IOA to take proper and adequate measures to eradicate the problem at its roots, not only to enable the country to host international events but also to support its aspiration of becoming a sporting nation like China or South Korea. Otherwise, sooner rather than later, Indian athletes may be compelled to participate in international events under the IOC flag instead of the national flag. As a matter of fact, the IOC has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against doping, and several countries have already been punished or placed under watch for this menace, which is tarnishing the reputation of the entire sporting fraternity.
In this context, India’s anti-doping measures have often proved to be a toothless tiger, allowing many athletes to escape without punishment. As the number of doping incidents continues to rise, it appears imperative for India to introduce tougher laws to prevent such shameful practices. The Dhanalakshmi Sekar case has exposed how many athletes pay little heed to existing anti-doping regulations and indulge in such practices repeatedly. Dhanalakshmi emerged as a promising sprinter a couple of years ago but was barred in 2022 after testing positive for banned steroids. After serving a three-year ban, she returned to competition in July last year and won three medals at the inter-state athletics meet in August. While she was being widely praised for her comeback, she once again failed a dope test and now faces the possibility of an eight-year ban, which would effectively end her sporting career.
If this were an isolated case, the episode could be dismissed as an individual’s reckless pursuit of sporting glory. Unfortunately, there are many such instances, and more worrying is the fact that doping is no longer confined to disciplines such as weightlifting or wrestling alone. The menace has now spread to several other sports. For instance, of the 7,113 samples tested by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in 2024, 260 returned positive results — a figure considered alarmingly high by international standards. Nearly six per cent of athletes were found guilty while participating in competitions. Even more disturbing is the role of coaches, who have, in some cases, forced athletes to take performance-enhancing substances, as seen in the recent suspension of a junior coach who attempted to shield his trainees from detection.
It is, therefore, high time for all concerned stakeholders to come together and plug the loopholes in existing laws by making them more stringent. Any laxity in this regard will irreparably damage the country’s reputation as a sports-loving nation.