Indian athletes banned for doping in 2026 include national medallists, Indian Athletics Series winners and, in a clear shift this year, high-profile coaches. The latest National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) list, dated 12 October 2026, names 14 athletes and support staff, and eight of them are from athletics.

This page brings together every major doping ban and provisional suspension in Indian athletics this year. It covers cases from NADA and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the substances involved, and what each sanction means for the athlete. Athletics India reported many of these cases first, and we update this page whenever a new list is published.

Latest Indian athletes banned for doping: NADA list of 12 October 2026

NADA’s provisional suspension list of 12 October 2026 is the most recent update. It includes a Federation Cup medallist, several Indian Athletics Series winners and a leading Army Sports Institute (ASI) coach. We reported the full list the following day in 8 of 14 new provisional suspensions are from athletics.

Five of the six athletes in the table tested positive for at least one anabolic steroid. Several had won finals at the Indian Athletics Series this season, so those results may now be reviewed. Sakir, for example, won 1500m silver at the 2026 Federation Cup.

Coaches suspended and banned for doping in 2026

For years, doping cases in India ended with the athlete. In 2026, however, NADA has charged several well-known coaches. This matters because one coach can influence dozens of athletes. Our analysis, how the 2026 crackdown put top coaches in NADA’s crosshairs, looks at this shift in detail.

Yunus Khan: provisional suspension for complicity

Mohammad Yunus Khan, a middle and long distance coach at the Army Sports Institute in Pune, has been charged under Article 2.9 of the NADA Anti-Doping Rules. He guided Gulveer Singh early in his career and has worked with marathoner Sawan Barwal. According to our sources, the charge is linked to training access for Kartik Kumar, who is serving a ban. Khan declined to comment. Read the full story: ASI coach Yunus Khan suspended by NADA.

Rakesh Kumar: lifetime ban

NADA handed coach Rakesh Kumar a lifetime ban for administering prohibited substances to athletes in athletics, weightlifting and powerlifting. He had been suspended since March 2025. It is one of very few lifetime bans given to a coach in Indian athletics.

Sandeep Maan: trafficking charge

Sonipat-based coach Sandeep Maan appears on NADA’s list under Article 2.7, which covers trafficking of prohibited substances. The case is linked to junior athlete Sanjana Singh, who is also on the list.

Other Indian athletes banned for doping earlier in 2026

The October list follows a steady run of cases since January. These are the main ones we reported, with a link to each story.

The investigation around sprinter Dhanalakshmi Sekar and her coach has also continued this year. We covered it in the Dhanalakshmi Sekar doping case and the probe into coach Manikandan.

Banned substances found in Indian athletes in 2026

The same few substances appear again and again in this year’s cases. All of them are on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

• Stanozolol: an anabolic steroid that builds muscle and strength. It is the most common substance in Indian cases this year.
• Metandienone, Oxandrolone, Drostanolone and Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone: other anabolic steroids, often found together with Stanozolol.
• Mephentermine: a stimulant first developed as a blood pressure medicine. It is banned in competition.
• Letrozole: a hormone modulator, often used to limit the side effects of steroid use.
• Morphine: a narcotic painkiller, banned in competition.

Provisional suspension vs doping ban: what is the difference?

Most names on the October list are provisionally suspended, not yet banned. A provisional suspension starts after a positive test or a formal charge, and the athlete cannot compete until the case is decided.

The case then goes to NADA’s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP). If the panel finds a violation, it hands down a ban, usually four years for an intentional steroid offence. Either side can then appeal to the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel (ADAP). Complicity charges, like the one against Yunus Khan, can lead to a ban of two years up to life.

For a step-by-step guide, read our explainer on the NADA process from doping allegation to final appeal. NADA publishes its official lists on the NADA India website, while international bans appear on the AIU global list of ineligible persons.

What happens after an Indian athlete is banned for doping

A ban affects more than the athlete’s next competition. Results from the date of the positive sample are usually disqualified, which means medals, prize money and records can be taken away. Rankings and team selections may also change for other athletes.

During the ban, the athlete cannot train at federation-recognised or government-funded facilities. They may only return to team training near the end of the ban, in the last two months or the last quarter of the period, whichever is shorter. This rule is at the centre of the Yunus Khan case. We also discussed a related question in should a doping ban end an athlete’s right to coach?

Why doping in Indian athletics is under global watch

India has one of the highest numbers of banned track and field athletes on the AIU’s ineligible list. The AIU also keeps India in its highest-risk group of countries. We explained what this means in India’s Category A doping risk status.

Pressure has also come from WADA. Its leadership met India’s Central Bureau of Investigation this year to discuss supply networks, as we reported in WADA chief meets CBI over India’s doping crackdown. In addition, NADA has widened its Registered Testing Pool, with 120 athletics athletes in the Q2 2026 pool, and anti-doping education is now mandatory for Asian Games athletes.

For clean athletes, every case matters. Results, national records and team places can all change after a ban, so a clear record of Indian athletes banned for doping is important for the whole sport.

How Athletics India reports doping cases

Our team checks every new NADA and AIU list as soon as it is published. We then confirm each athletics case against competition results and, where possible, contact the athlete or coach for comment. Each name on this page links to our original report.

A provisional suspension is not a final finding. We say clearly when a case is still open, and we update this page when a panel reaches a decision or a suspension is lifted. To report an error, please contact our editorial team.