The AIU, an independent body tasked with fighting corruption and wrongdoing in athletics, revealed that India, the world’s most populous country, ranked in the top two for the most anti-doping violations in athletics between 2022 and 2025. AIU chair David Howman emphasized that the doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time, noting that the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the actual doping risk. Howman further stated that while the AFI has advocated for anti-doping reforms within the country, not enough has changed. Consequently, the AIU will now work directly with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of the sport, mirroring efforts previously undertaken with other Category A member federations.
This escalation comes at a critical juncture as India prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, an event viewed as a vital stepping stone for its ambition of staging the 2036 Olympics. Highlighting the ongoing crisis, Asian Games gold medallist archer Prathamesh Jawkar was recently banned for two years after accepting punishment for a whereabouts failure. This suspension ensures he will miss the upcoming Asian Games in Japan during September and October. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Witold Banka, who visited New Delhi last week, labeled India the world’s biggest producer of performance-enhancing drugs. However, Banka noted that India’s consistent position at the top of the list of drug cheats will not necessarily hamper its chances of hosting prestigious global sporting events.
The AIU's decision marks a watershed moment for Indian sports administration, forcing the nation to confront systemic integrity issues. As India seeks to establish itself as a global sporting powerhouse, the shift to Category A serves as a stern administrative warning that domestic reforms must accelerate to match international standards of transparency and clean competition.
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