Home / Sports / India Tops WADA Doping Violations: A New Low for Sports
India Tops WADA Doping Violations: A New Low for Sports
20 Dec
Summary
- India leads WADA's 2023 anti-doping violations with 222 cases.
- Female athletes accounted for a significant majority of India's violations.
- Athletics and weightlifting were the most affected sports in India.
In a significant development for global sports integrity, India has ascended to the top position in the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) 2023 report on anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs). The nation recorded a total of 222 ADRVs, marking a concerning rise in doping infringements. This figure places India ahead of perennial leader Russia, which registered 209 cases in the same report released on December 19, 2025.
The latest WADA figures highlight a disturbing trend, with India also leading in adverse analytical findings for the third consecutive year. The 222 violations include 207 analytical ADRVs stemming from 211 adverse analytical findings out of 5,606 samples analyzed. Notably, female athletes accounted for 170 cases, far outnumbering the 45 cases involving male athletes. Athletics and weightlifting emerged as the most affected sports within India, contributing 63 and 37 violations respectively.
