🌑Knowledge Drop – 74: India and Global Doping Violations (2024): Key Facts, Institutions and Concerns
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India and Global Doping Violations (2024): Key Facts, Institutions and Concerns
Post Date: 27-12-2025
Syllabus: GS-2 | 🏥 Health / Sports Governance
In News 🚨
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Report 2024 ranked India as the worst doping offender globally for the third consecutive year.
Key Findings from WADA Report 2024 📊
- India:
- 260 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs)
- Positivity rate: 3.6%
- Comparative Positivity Rates:
- China: 0.2%
- France: 0.8%
- Russia: 0.7%
- United States: 1.1%
➡️ These countries conducted wider testing programmes yet reported far lower positivity rates.
Why This Matters for India ⚠️
- India is preparing to:
- Host the 2030 Commonwealth Games
- Bid for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has flagged India’s doping record as a:
- Reputational risk
- Governance concern
What is Doping? 🧪
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, doping includes:
- Presence or use of prohibited substances
- Refusal to submit to sample collection
- Tampering with testing processes
- Trafficking or administration of banned substances
- Complicity by coaches or support personnel
Common Prohibited Substances
- Anabolic steroids
- Stimulants
- Blood-doping agents (e.g. EPO)
- Hormone modulators enhancing strength, endurance or recovery
India’s Efforts to Tackle Doping 🇮🇳
Legal & Institutional Measures
- National Anti-Doping Act, 2022
- Granted statutory status to:
- National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)
- National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL)
- Granted statutory status to:
- National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- Introduced to strengthen institutional autonomy
International Commitment 🌍
- India is a signatory to the
UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport
Technological & Administrative Measures ⚙️
- Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU)
- Established at NDTL in 2025
- Monitors athletes’ Biological Passports
- NIDAMS Portal
- NADA India Data Administration and Management System
- Digitises:
- Test planning
- Mission orders for Doping Control Officers (DCOs)
- Know Your Medicine (KYM) App
- Enables athletes to:
- Scan or search medicines
- Check compliance with WADA prohibited list
- Enables athletes to:
About the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 🌐
- Founded in 1999 after the Lausanne Declaration
- Legal status: Swiss private law foundation
- Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
- Regional Offices:
- Lausanne (Europe)
- Cape Town (Africa)
- Montevideo (Latin America)
- Functions:
- Publishes World Anti-Doping Code
- Releases annual prohibited list
- Coordinates global anti-doping efforts
IASGenius Prelims Takeaway 🧠
India’s high doping positivity rate highlights implementation gaps, despite strong laws, institutions, and digital tools.
Target IAS-2026+: Highly Expected Prelims MCQs :
📌 Prelims Practice MCQs
Topic:
MCQ 1 | TYPE 1 — How Many Statements Are Correct?
Consider the following statements regarding the WADA Report 2024:
1)India recorded the highest number of Adverse Analytical Findings globally.
2)India’s doping positivity rate was higher than that of China and the United States.
3)Countries with wider testing programmes always record higher positivity rates.
4)India ranked worst globally in doping violations for the third consecutive year.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a)Only one
(b)Only two
(c)Only three
(d)All four
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: (c)Only three
🧠 Explanation:
1)✅True – India recorded 260 AAFs, the highest globally.
2)✅True – India’s positivity rate was 3.6%, higher than China and the US.
3)❌False – Wider testing does not necessarily imply higher positivity rates.
4)✅True – India topped doping violations for the third consecutive year.
MCQ 2 | TYPE 2 — Two-Statement Type
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:The World Anti-Doping Code defines doping only as the use of prohibited substances.
Statement II:Doping also includes refusal to submit to sample collection and trafficking of banned substances.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)Only Statement I
(b)Only Statement II
(c)Both Statement I and II
(d)Neither Statement I nor Statement II
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: (b)Only Statement II
🧠 Explanation:
Statement I:❌False – Doping includes multiple violations beyond substance use.
Statement II:✅True – Refusal, trafficking and administration are covered.
MCQ 3 | TYPE 3 — Code-Based Statement Selection
With reference to India’s anti-doping framework, consider the following statements:
1)The National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 granted statutory status to NADA and NDTL.
2)The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to weaken institutional autonomy.
3)India is a signatory to the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 3 only
(b)1 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1,2 and 3
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: (a)1 and 3 only
🧠 Explanation:
1)✅True – Statutory status was provided in 2022.
2)❌False – The Amendment Bill aims to strengthen autonomy.
3)✅True – India is a signatory to the UNESCO convention.
MCQ 4 | TYPE 4 — Direct Factual Question
Which one of the following tools allows Indian athletes to check whether a medicine contains substances prohibited by WADA?
(a)NIDAMS Portal
(b)Athlete Passport Management Unit
(c)Know Your Medicine (KYM) App
(d)Biological Passport System
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: (c)Know Your Medicine (KYM) App
🧠 Explanation:
The KYM App enables athletes to scan or search medicines to check WADA compliance.
MCQ 5 | TYPE 5 — UPSC 2025 Linkage Reasoning Format (I, II, III)
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:India’s poor doping record poses reputational challenges in hosting major international sporting events.
Statement II:The International Olympic Committee considers doping governance an important criterion in awarding hosting rights.
Statement III:High doping positivity rates raise concerns about enforcement and institutional effectiveness.
Which one of the following is correct?
A)Both Statements II and III are correct and both explain Statement I
B)Both Statements II and III are correct but only one explains Statement I
C)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
D)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
🟩 Correct Answer: A)Both Statements II and III are correct and both explain Statement I
🧠 Explanation:
Statement I highlights the reputational risk.
Statement II explains the IOC’s concern regarding governance standards.
Statement III explains how high positivity rates signal enforcement gaps.
Both statements logically explain Statement I.
📘 Knowledge Drop-74 | Prelims Booster Notes (1-Page)
Theme: India and Global Doping Violations (2024)
GS-2 | Health / Sports Governance
Why in News?
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Report 2024 ranked India highest globally in doping violations for the third consecutive year.
Key Numbers & Comparisons
- India: 260 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs)
Positivity rate: 3.6% - Other countries (positivity rate):
- China 0.2%
- France 0.8%
- Russia 0.7%
- United States 1.1%
➡️ Despite wider testing, these countries reported lower positivity.
Why It Matters
- India is preparing to:
- Host 2030 Commonwealth Games
- Bid for 2036 Olympic & Paralympic Games
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) flags doping records as reputational and governance risks for hosts.
What is Doping?
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, violations include:
- Presence/use of prohibited substances
- Refusal to submit samples
- Tampering with testing
- Trafficking/administration
- Complicity by support personnel
Common prohibited substances:
Anabolic steroids, stimulants, EPO, hormone modulators.
India’s Anti-Doping Framework
Legal
- National Anti-Doping Act, 2022
Statutory status to NADA & NDTL - National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025
Strengthens institutional autonomy
International
- Signatory to UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport
Institutional / Digital
- Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) at NDTL (2025)
Monitors Biological Passports - NIDAMS Portal
End-to-end digital testing workflow - Know Your Medicine (KYM) App
Checks medicines against WADA prohibited list
About WADA (Quick Facts)
- Founded 1999 (Lausanne Declaration)
- Legal status: Swiss private law foundation
- HQ: Montreal
- Publishes World Anti-Doping Code & annual prohibited list
Prelims Traps ⚠️
- ❌ Doping = only drug use
- ❌ Wider testing always raises positivity
- ❌ NADA/NDTL lacked statutory backing earlier
- ❌ KYM App replaces testing (it doesn’t)
One-Line Takeaway
India’s high positivity rate reflects implementation gaps, not absence of laws or tools.
⚡ Knowledge Drop-74 | 20-Word Flash Facts (Prelims)
1)India topped global doping violations for the third consecutive year in WADA Report 2024.
2)India recorded 260 AAFs with a 3.6% positivity rate.
3)China’s positivity rate in 2024 was 0.2%.
4)France reported a 0.8% doping positivity rate.
5)United States recorded 1.1% positivity despite wide testing.
6)WADA defines doping beyond substance use to include refusal and trafficking.
7)EPO is a blood-doping agent banned by WADA.
8)India enacted the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022.
9)The 2022 Act granted statutory status to NADA and NDTL.
10)The 2025 Amendment Bill aims to strengthen autonomy.
11)India is party to the UNESCO anti-doping convention.
12)APMU monitors athletes’ Biological Passports.
13)NIDAMS digitises planning, testing, and reporting.
14)KYM App helps athletes check medicine compliance.
15)WADA was founded in 1999.
16)WADA headquarters is in Montreal, Canada.
17)WADA publishes the World Anti-Doping Code.
18)IOC considers doping governance while awarding hosting rights.
19)High positivity rates signal enforcement weaknesses.
20)Anti-doping credibility affects India’s global sports reputation.
🧠 IASGenius Prelims Whisper
Rules exist; credibility follows enforcement.