India's athletic history has never appeared more promising. A dynamic environment has been produced by Olympic podium finishes, flourishing professional leagues and grassroots involvement. However, doping and age fraud cast a shadow over this rise.
The National Anti- Doping Agency (NADA) tested 7,466 samples in 2024 and reported the highest number of positive results - 260. The sports most severely impacted were boxing, wrestling, weightlifting and athletics. Concerningly, children were involved in almost 10% of infractions. At the same time, 35% of under-17 tournaments were compromised due to over-age competitors and falsified birth certificates.
These shortcomings go beyond simple statistical errors. They undermine public confidence, skew competition and jeopardize the welfare of athletes. Clean athletes miss out on opportunities, sponsors hesitate and India's reputation declines internationally.
The stakes are extremely high because the nation is considering a bid for the 2036 Olympics.
Acknowledging this, two historic reforms were implemented in 2025. The World Anti-Doping Code was directly incorporated into Indian law when Parliament passed the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Act.
It guarantees NADA's operational independence, protecting it from political or federation meddling, expands definitions, codifies nine infractions and extends liability to coaches and administrators. Most importantly, it gives athletes access to independent panels and the Court of Arbitration for Sport, strengthening result management and appeals.
In the meantime, the Draft National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports (NCAAFS) was released by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. Triple-document verification, QR-enabled DigiLocker IDs and AI-assisted medical evaluations, including MRI scans for appeals, are all required.
The penalties are severe: lifetime bans for repeat offenders, two-year bans for first offenders and incentives for whistleblowers to promote reporting. The Code seeks to eradicate the culture of falsification that has afflicted youth sports by using technology and digitising records.
However, legislation is insufficient on its own. Investments in labs, AI tools and yearly training for 2,000 officials are necessary for implementation. In order to match deterrence with awareness, it requires grassroots education and mandatory workshops for parents, coaches and athletes.
Transparency is essential; trust can be restored with public dashboards that track tests, positives and appeals. Capacity building will be accelerated by international cooperation through MOUs with Sport Integrity Australia, Play True Japan and UKAD.
The reforms come at a critical juncture. India cannot afford to lose WADA recognition for its labs or suffer reputational harm from recurrent violations. Additionally, it cannot permit systemic fraud to take advantage of young athletes. India demonstrates its commitment to clean sport by implementing strict penalties, digitising verification and integrating international standards.
The message is very clear: fair play is required. It is the cornerstone of great athletic achievement. India can safeguard youth, reassure sponsors and bolster its Olympic aspirations if these reforms are implemented with diligence and cooperation. If not, dreams will be postponed and medals will remain tarnished. Before Indian sport, there is a clear choice: either rebuild credibility now or run the risk of losing the future.
Professor (Dr) Ruhi Paul is the UNESCO Chairholder on Legal Dimensions of Clean Sport at the National Law University Delhi.
Archit Vyas is a practising advocate in the Karnataka High Court and a team member, UNESCO Chair on Legal Dimensions of Clean Sport at the National Law University Delhi.