Afghanistan's anti-doping programme has collapsed since the Taliban's return to power, with no tests conducted for three years and the country's exiled anti-doping chief admitting there is currently 'no hope'. The programme faces numerous challenges, including a lack of Doping Control Officers, logistical issues, and political instability.
World Anti-Doping Agency President Witold Banka is in India to discuss the implementation of effective anti-doping measures with sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya and other officials, following concerns about India's high doping numbers.
The BCCI had been vehemently opposed to signing up with NADA, claiming that it is an autonomous body, not a National Sports Federation and does not rely on government funding.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Witold Banka is in Delhi for discussions with NADA officials regarding India's increasing doping cases. He is expected to address the issue in a press conference.
NADA Chairman Anant Kumar highlights the importance of education in combating doping, acknowledging the evolving nature of the threat and the need for constant upgrades in monitoring mechanisms.
BCCI has said that government body has no jurisdiction to conduct dopes tests on Indian cricketers.
WADA President Witold Banka acknowledges India's doping problem but recognises sincere efforts to address it, including participation in Operation Upstream.
India is developing legislation to criminalise the trafficking and administration of performance-enhancing drugs to athletes, aiming to combat doping and uphold sports integrity.
The Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill which seeks to provide a statutory framework for the functioning of the National Anti-Doping Agency and the National Dope Testing Laboratory.
Kenya's anti-doping agency says an Indian national was caught with "an illegal consignment of assorted performance enhancing substances" during a recent raid on prohibited drugs, conducted in collaboration with the country's Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) Director General Anant Kumar has emphasised the importance of education as the primary defence against doping, acknowledging the evolving nature of the problem and the need for constant upgrades in monitoring mechanisms.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will assess the performance of India's National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) in the coming months, a process described as routine by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). WADA President Witold Banka expressed satisfaction with the facility after a recent visit, while India is also in the running to host the next WADA Global Education Conference.
Junior Commonwealth gold medallist Sairaj Pardeshi faces a provisional doping ban after testing positive, while alleging a conspiracy to sabotage his career.
Pooja Aatmaram has been suspended under Article 2.3 of the World Anti-Doping Agency's code.
Many federations and former athletes alike have been calling for an anti-doping legislation to implement the existing rules.
The Indian Olympic Association's Executive Council agreed to set up a panel to tackle doping after India's poor record was flagged by the IOC during a national delegation's visit to push for the 2036 Olympic bid.
India is bidding to become an Olympic host in 2036 and the International Olympic Committee has made it clear that the country will have to considerably improve its current doping record.
2014 Asian Games medallist hammer thrower Manju Bala banned for 5 years for doping
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) director-general David Howman has credited India for its efforts at closely monitoring the dope menace among its athletes.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya revealed that 1342 athletes have been removed from the Khelo India programme in the last three years due to poor performance and doping violations, while 2905 new athletes have been inducted.
Commonwealth Championships gold medalist Sairaj Pardeshi has been provisionally suspended by NADA after testing positive for a banned substance. The weightlifter alleges a conspiracy to sabotage his career.
Tennis Australia said the ITIA confirmed the breach related to the use of a prohibited method rather than the presence of a prohibited substance.
In addition, Kumar has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to February 27, 2025, the date his first positive sample was collected, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
Tamil Nadu athlete Baranica Elangovan set a new national record in the women's pole vault at the National Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar, clearing 4.22m.
Responding to debate on the bill, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anurag Thakur said it will promote sports and protect the interest of sportspersons.
Beijing's National Anti-Doping laboratory was suspended for a maximum of four months by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Thursday after failing to comply with international standards.
Seema Punia gets 16-month ban for failing dope test
The jumper, who is in her 30s, had also competed in the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, a source in the Athletics Federation of India told PTI.
India thus topped the list for a third consecutive year, something that might hurt its chances when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) evaluates its bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games in the near future.
A revised World Anti-Doping Code, doubling the bans for cheats in sport, was adopted on Friday.
The National Sports Governance Bill was on Tuesday passed by the Parliament with Rajya Sabha giving its nod a mere 24 hours after Lok Sabha.
Indian middle-distance runner Twinkle Chaudhary has been banned for four years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after testing positive for a banned substance. She was cleared of breaching her provisional suspension.
Jasmine Kaur has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for failing a dope test.
Gagandeep Singh was among a slew of athletes across sports who were handed three-year ban by the National Anti-Doping Agency
Junior National team chief coach Ramesh Nagpuri was suspended by the National Anti Doping Agency for "complicity" in doping and seven athletes were in dock for "evading" tests after a slew of dope cases rocked Indian athletics.
The former India cricketer has not attended a single hearing of Anti-Doping Appeals Panel since the new panel was formed.
The country also mounted bids on some high-profile continental and global events, including the 2031 World Athletics Championships with Ahmedabad as the proposed venue.
Also on February 18, the ADDP handed two-year ban on wrestler Pawan Kumar and three-year suspension on boxer Pravesh Kumar.
India's doping woes came to the fore once again with the country topping the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2023 testing figures among countries which analysed 5,000 or more samples even as the sports ministry promised an "aggressive clean-up" and an amended Anti-Doping Act after addressing objections from the WADA.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju feels that the National Sports Governance Bill, which is set to be tabled in the monsoon session beginning on Monday, will usher in a 'new era' for sports in India.
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