India has topped the global rankings for sports doping violations for the third consecutive year, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), dealing a setback to the country’s ambitions of hosting major international sporting events.
In its annual report, WADA said India’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) collected 7,113 urine and blood samples in 2024, with 260 testing positive. India also led the list in 2022 and 2023.
Athletics recorded the highest number of cases at 76, followed by weightlifting with 43 and wrestling with 29.
High-profile cases included under-23 wrestling champion and Paris Olympics quarter-finalist Reetika Hooda, who tested positive in July and was provisionally suspended.
The report comes as India prepares to bid for the 2036 Olympics and host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Concerns over doping have already prompted scrutiny from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which urged India earlier this year to strengthen its anti-doping controls.
France ranked second in 2024 with 91 positive cases, followed by Italy with 85. Russia and the United States recorded 76 cases each, while Germany and China reported 54 and 43, respectively.
Responding to the report, NADA said India has significantly strengthened its anti-doping framework by increasing testing, education, and awareness.
The agency added that as of December 16, it had conducted 7,068 tests this year, with 110 positive cases.
Following IOC concerns, the Indian Olympic Association formed a new anti-doping panel in August, while the government passed a national anti-doping bill to tighten enforcement and expand testing facilities.
