Indian athletes will have to go through stringent anti-doping stipulations, including minimum testing requirements, as the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has moved the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) from Category ‘B’ to ‘A’ because of the “consistently extremely high risk of doping in India.”

The AIU, an independent body managing integrity related issues in international athletics, recently took the decision on the basis of Rule 15 of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on categorisation of federations according to their doping risk to the sport.

The AIU noted that India ranked in the top two for the most Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) in athletics between 2022 and 2025. “In 2022, India recorded 48 ADRVs (2nd); in 2023, 63 (2nd); in 2024, 71 (1st); and for 2025, India has recorded 30 ADRVs so far (1st).”

AIU chair David Howman said, “The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk.

“While the AFI has advocated for anti-doping reforms within India, not enough has changed. The AIU will now work with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of athletics, as we have done with other ‘Category A’ member federations.”

Belarus, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia and Ukraine are there in Category ‘A.’

“We will continue to work with the AIU and National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in the battle against doping in Indian athletics. The AFI has been advocating to criminalise the perpetrators of doping, especially at the grassroots level. It will deter coaches and parents from resorting to doping young athletes,” said an AFI release.

The AFI expressed confidence that sooner than later India would be taken off Category ‘A.’

The doping menace has seriously challenged India’s aspirations to host multi-sport events. The country – which will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is interested in bidding for the 2036 Olympics – has been the table topper in overall dope positive cases for three consecutive years.

During his recent visit to Delhi, WADA Director Witold Banka highlighted the issue of easy availability of performance enhancing drugs in India and sought Government agencies’ support to break supply lines.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the Government would introduce criminal provisions against those involved in administering or trafficking prohibited substances.

A Category ‘A’ Member Federation shall monitor the performance of elite athletes under its jurisdiction and keeps the pool updated throughout the duration of the Testing Programme.

No athlete may participate in the World Athletics Championships or Olympic Games unless, in the 10 months prior to the deadline set by the Integrity Unit for the relevant Event, they have undergone at least three no notice Out-of-Competition tests as follows: “The three no notice Out-of-Competition Tests must have been conducted with at least 21 full days between each test; (ii) the first of the three no notice Out-of-Competition Tests must have been conducted no later than 24 weeks prior to the start of the relevant Event i.e., prior to the first day of the World Athletics Championships or the Olympic Games, as the case may be; (iii) for Athletes competing in any of (a) a middle or long-distance discipline from 800m upwards, (b) a combined event discipline or (c) a race walk discipline, the three Out-of-Competition Tests must include at least one Athlete Biological Passport test (blood) and one EPO test (blood or urine).

For Athletes competing in all other disciplines, the three Out-of-Competition Tests may be blood or urine.

Under Rule 15.5.3, each Category ‘A’ Member Federation shall establish a suitably qualified and experienced Anti-Doping Monitoring Committee to oversee and ensure the organisation’s compliance.