This follows widespread criticism after a total of 500 athletes were found to have violated anti doping rules from January 2009 until July 2013 by the National Anti Doping Agency, with athletics contributing to 113 of these cases. 

In what was dubbed as a "year of shame" by local reporters, 23 positive tests were returned in athletics in 2013 alone.

Last August, the IAAF reported that the number of Indian athletes currently suspended, totalling 43, represented the second highest number from any country behind Russia. 

In the latest IAAF list of positive cases in athletics, circulated earlier this week, six of the 11 names are Indian, with all handed two-year bans for failing in-competition tests at a variety of domestic junior and university-level competitions.

The IAAF claim most of these cases consist of low-level competitors and, at the highest level, Indian athletes "conforms to and generally applies with anti-doping regulations".

The high number of Indian athletes failing tests must be a concern to the new Indian Olympic Association President Narayana Ramachandran (left) ©AFP/Getty Images


"All but a few of the cases involve unknown recreational and social level athletes who do not compete in the sport at even a high regional let alone national level," the IAAF told insidethegames.

"They are simply not aware of anti-doping practices rather than being involved in any form of systematic cheating.

"These recreational athletes are being tested because many professions in India such as the police and other civil services demand their employees complete a national level sports examination and it's that exam that leads to a doping control.

"The IAAF has been and continues to be in contact with the relevant parties concerned to improve education but in a vast country with an equally vast population this is complex to resolve.

"In all other respects India conforms to and generally applies anti-doping regulations."

But in recent years the Indian doping crisis has also permeated the higher levels of the sport, and a number of home athletes failed tests before and during the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010. 

Three members of the gold medal winning 4 x 400m relay team at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games have since failed drug tests ©Getty Images




Prior to the Games shot-putter Sourabh Vij, along with four wrestlers and two swimmers, were withdrawn from the Indian squad after testing positive for methylhexaneamine.

Then in July 2011, three of the four members of India's gold medal winning 4x100 metres relay team tested positive, with Sini Jose and Jauna Murmu failing tests for the anabolic steroid methandienone, and Tiana Mary Thomas for epi-methandienone.

Given the relative lack of success at senior level since, with the best Indian performance at London 2012 sixth place for discus thrower Krishna Poonia, the large numbers of cases will be especially concerning, justifying the IAAF view that it is athletes at the lowest levels who are most guilty.

But the Athletics Federation of India will be keen to avoid more scandals later this year, particularly at either the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games or the Incheon 2014 Asian Games.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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