The ugly spectre of doping haunts Indian sports

For the last couple of years, Indian athletes have been shamed as the world’s largest dope cheats. According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), India has the maximum 3.2 % of Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) among 100 tested athletes which is the highest in the world. Doping menace is doing immense damage to Indian sports and sportspersons and its high time that the authorities came down with a heavy hand on it. For it hurts the very edifice of fair play and level playing field.

The crux of the problem is easy availability of banned substances. The authorities have miserably failed on this score.

These substances are very easy to get. For instance, banned and masking substances are available over the counter at the shops adjoining the National Institute of Sports, Patiala.

One can find syringes strewn all over the place-- First Draft have spoken to many athletes who say that banned substances such as testosterone, nandrolone, danazol, and menabol are readily available.

In India, people prefer to take shortcut to success. Often parents and coaches push the athletes to take to dope in order to excel -- which invariably results in rampant doping. Once caught, these athletes point fingers at their parents or coach but then there are no lessons learnt.

A former Sports Authority of India (athletic coach) said that it was people in the inner circle of athletes who often pushed them into doping. The logic being the chances one gets caught is less in such a large country like us.

Many athletes come from poor backgrounds—for them getting a job through sports quota is of utmost importance. For them, it’s not the means but the end which counts. They don’t mind taking drugs and masking substances as that would enhance their performances drastically since it helps them procure a job in a public or private institution. Once they get their jobs, they cannot be sacked as in most cases they appeal against their ban in the courts.

The doping whammy does not end here. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has bluntly told the Indian authorities that they have to get their house in order if India wants to host the 2036 Olympics. After all, fair play is the essence of the Olympic movement and part of the Olympic charter, so it’s going to be zero tolerance towards doping.