India’s athletics system has come under sharp global scrutiny after the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) officially categorised the country as a ‘Category A’ nation — the highest doping risk bracket under World Athletics Rule 15.

This move means stricter anti-doping rules, increased testing, and tighter monitoring for Indian athletes moving forward — a significant escalation in oversight.

The AIU’s decision is rooted in consistent data. India has been among the top two nations globally for Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) over the past four years:

2022: 48 cases (2nd highest)
2023: 63 cases (2nd highest)
2024: 71 cases (highest globally)
2025: Already 30 cases so far

AIU Chair David Howman did not hold back, stating that India’s doping risk has remained “extremely high for a long time” and that the domestic anti-doping programme is not proportionate to the scale of the problem.

While the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has pushed for reforms, the AIU believes progress has been insufficient. Now, under Category A, India will face mandatory minimum testing requirements for national athletes and closer international supervision.

Last year, the Athletics Integrity Unit took action against many Indian athletes, including two prominent names — Twinkle Chaudhary (800m) and Sneha Kolleri (400m). Both cases raised concerns about domestic testing. Twinkle was tested multiple times before competing at the Asian Athletics Championships but returned a positive result in an AIU test at the competition. Similarly, Sneha, a national camper, was tested multiple times before representing India at the World Relays, yet tested positive there for Stanozolol. A major shock came when one of her earlier samples, initially negative, returned positive upon AIU re-testing — raising serious questions about the credibility of India’s National Anti-Doping Agency globally.

The contrast is stark — while India has been placed in the highest-risk category, countries like Bahrain are being downgraded due to successful reforms and improved testing systems, highlighting what structured anti-doping governance can achieve.

This is not just a classification — it’s a warning signal for Indian athletics. The focus now shifts to whether India can implement real reforms quickly enough to restore credibility on the global stage.

Asian U20 Athletics 2026 qualification standards have been officially announced, bringing clarity for India’s young track and field athletes.

The selection will be based on performances at the upcoming Junior Federation Cup, making it a crucial event in the calendar.

AFI Announces Qualification Standards

The Athletics Federation of India has released the official qualification standards for the Asian U20 Athletics Championships 2026.

This announcement gives athletes a clear benchmark to aim for as they prepare for the upcoming season.

The Asian U20 Athletics Championships is a major continental competition for athletes under 20.

For Indian athletes, performing here can open doors to global success.

The World Athletics has rejected 11 requests by athletes seeking to switch allegiance to Türkiye, concerned over a coordinated recruitment drive. The decision, taken by its Nationality Review Panel, underscores growing scrutiny over nationality transfers in global sport.

The applications were from various countries, including Kenya, Jamaica, Nigeria and Russia. Among them were high-profile names such as marathon star Brigid Kosgei and Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili. World Athletics said approving these transfers would “compromise” the integrity of its eligibility rules.

According to the panel, the applications were part of a government-backed strategy by Türkiye to attract established international athletes through lucrative contracts, with the aim of strengthening its medal prospects at future events, including the 2028 Olympics.

Rules around nationality transfers were tightened in 2019 to ensure athletes have a genuine link to the country they represent and to prevent what officials have described as the commercialisation of national allegiance.

While the athletes cannot represent Türkiye in international competitions, they remain eligible to compete in club events and road races.

Gabby Thomas, the reigning Olympic 200m champion, opened her 2026 season in style by winning the women’s 100m at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix in Ethiopia, clocking 11.13 seconds. The American completed a sprint double at the meet, also taking the 200m in 22.15 seconds, underlining her versatility across distances.

Thomas, who won gold in the 200m at the Paris Olympics along with relay titles in the 4x100m and 4x400m, has steadily established herself as one of the most complete sprinters in the world. Her ability to transition between the 100m and 200m — and even step up to the 400m — makes her a rare multi-event threat on the global stage.

The Addis Ababa performance was also her first competitive outing on African soil, marking the start of a three-leg tour that includes the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi. With early-season form already peaking, Thomas looks set to be a major contender again in 2026.

Habtom Samuel delivered a stunning performance at the Bryan Clay Invitational, slashing nearly 2.5 seconds off his own NCAA outdoor 5000m record with a 13:03.47 run.

The University of New Mexico standout closed with a blistering 1:58.14 final 800m, underlining both his endurance and finishing speed.

Samuel, who represents Eritrea internationally, has rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting distance talents in collegiate athletics. His latest run not only resets the outdoor benchmark but also signals a serious push toward history.

The next frontier is clear: breaking the 13-minute barrier outdoors during the collegiate season — a mark that has already been achieved indoors by Nico Young and Graham Blanks.

Athletics Federation of India has announced the team for World Relays 2026. Speaking to the media, AFI’s former President and World Athletics Vice-President confirmed the squad along with several other updates.

As per him, India had qualified six relay teams for the World Relays 2026, but the federation has decided to send only five, opting not to send the women’s 4x400m team.

Men’s 4x400m: Rajesh Ramesh, Manu TS, Amoj Jacob, Dharamveer Choudhary, Theerthesh Shetty, Vishal TK, Nihal Joel
Men’s 4x100m: Pranav Gurav, Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Ragul Kumar, Harsh Raut, Tamilarasu
Mixed 4x400m: Rashdeep Kaur, Kumari Saloni, Ansa Babu
Women’s 4x100m: Nithya Gandhe, Sneha S.S, Tamanna, Sudeshna Shivankar, Srabani Nanda
Mixed 4x100m: Team will be selected from the men’s and women’s squads

However, the major talking point was the omission of Vikrant Panchal, who clocked 45.88s — the third-best time by an Indian this season. Notably, six athletes went sub-46s this season, with five included in the squad, leaving Vikrant as the only one excluded.

When nnis Sports raised this issue during the press conference, Adille said, “He doesn’t fit in our policy,” and asked us to refer to the relay selection policy on their website.

As per the “Selection Guidelines for Indian Relay Team” dated March 20, 2025:

nnis Sports also raised a question regarding Kumari Saloni’s inclusion in the mixed relay, despite not being a camper earlier. Responding to this, Adille said, “She is a camper, she has joined the camp.”

We pointed out that she joined after the Open Relay this month. Adille responded, “That’s okay as long as she has joined the camp.”

nnis Sports has learned through multiple sources that Saloni joined the camp on April 5, just 12 days before her inclusion. She reportedly received a call from AFI via email on April 2.

Meanwhile, Vikrant, who competed on April 11, did not receive any communication from the federation.

Adille further added that Vikrant was not available for doping control after his race at Indian Series-3, stating, “Vikrant has not given his dope test. He was not available on the ground after the race.”

However, nnis Sports was present at the venue and observed Vikrant sitting near the finish line for around half an hour due to fatigue, with no NADA officials approaching him for testing.

Later, nnis Sports interviewed him from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the warm-up track, and still no officials arrived for testing.

This raises serious questions about transparency and consistency in the selection process.

Adille also cited past cases, including that of Nirmala Sheoran, who was stripped of her Asian titles after a four-year ban, as a reason for caution in selecting athletes outside the camp system.

However, a recent positive case involved Sneha Kolleri, a camper who represented India at the 2025 World Relays and later tested positive for Stanozolol. She has recently been handed a three-year ban by the AIU.

Notably, she had tested negative multiple times in India, but a later re-analysis of a sample collected by NADA in Chandigarh returned positive, raising further concerns.

World Anti-Doping Agency President Witold Bańka met officials from India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to strengthen efforts against organised doping networks in the country.

The meeting comes at a time when India continues to face serious concerns over rising doping violations.

WADA and CBI Discuss Anti-Doping Cooperation

During his visit to India, Witold Bańka held discussions with CBI Special Director Manoj Sashidhar, focusing on collaboration to identify and dismantle criminal networks involved in doping.

The move signals a stronger enforcement approach, shifting focus from individual athletes to larger organised systems behind doping.

India’s anti-doping record remains a major concern globally. Recent data highlights the scale of the issue:

These figures underline the urgency behind the latest cooperation efforts.

The World Anti-Doping Agency plays a crucial role in maintaining fairness in global sports. Increased cooperation with national agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation is essential to combat systemic doping issues.

For India, improving its anti-doping record is critical to maintaining credibility in international athletics.

Faith Kipyegon is set to revisit familiar territory as she opens her 2026 outdoor season over 5000m at the Shanghai Diamond League, marking a rare appearance over 12.5 laps for the Olympic champion better known for her dominance in the 1500m.
The last time Kipyegon lined up for a Diamond League 5000m was in Paris in 2023, when she produced a stunning then-world record of 14:05.20—one of the standout performances of that season.
Since then, the event has evolved rapidly. Her mark now places her fourth on the all-time list, behind Beatrice Chebet, Gudaf Tsegay and Agnes Jebet Ngetich.
Shanghai offers more than just a season opener—it’s a chance to gauge where Kipyegon stands in an event that has only grown faster, deeper, and more unforgiving since her last appearance.

Sachin Yadav Diamond League debut is set to mark a historic moment for Indian athletics as the rising javelin star prepares to compete in Rome on June 9 and Doha on June 19.

Indian fans have been eagerly waiting to see the young thrower test himself against the world’s best, and 2026 could be the breakthrough year that defines his global standing.

Sachin Yadav Set for Diamond League Breakthrough

Sachin Yadav’s inclusion in the prestigious Diamond League signals his growing reputation on the global stage. Competing in back-to-back events in Rome and Doha, the Indian javelin thrower will face elite international athletes.

This debut is more than just participation—it’s a chance to establish India’s presence in one of athletics’ most competitive circuits.

Schedule Update – Doha Event Rescheduled

Originally, Sachin was slated to begin his campaign in Doha on May 8. However, due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region, the event has been postponed.

Updated Schedule

The revised calendar gives Sachin additional preparation time, which could play in his favor.

Strong Start to 2026 Season

Sachin Yadav began his 2026 season at the Indian Athletics Series 3 in New Delhi with an impressive performance.

While not his personal best, the performance indicates solid form heading into the international circuit.

Career Milestone – World Championships Performance

One of Sachin’s biggest achievements came last year at the World Championships in Tokyo.

2025 World Championships Stats

Missing out on a podium finish by a narrow margin, Sachin proved he can compete with the world’s elite—setting the stage for his Diamond League debut.

What is the Diamond League?

The Diamond League is an annual series of elite track and field events featuring the world’s best athletes.

For Indian athletes, competing here is a major recognition of global-level performance.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen will sit out the opening stretch of the Diamond League season as he continues his recovery from an Achilles injury, his agent confirmed to Norwegian newspaper VG.

The Norwegian star is set to miss the Bislett Games on June 10 for the second straight year, with no races planned across May or June. His agent, Daniel Wessfeldt, said a clearer timeline will depend on how training progresses through late April and May, though the overall prognosis remains positive.

“He’s relaxed and pain-free now,” Wessfeldt said, noting that while the winter Achilles surgery was successful, returning to elite training loads will take time. If recovery continues as expected, Ingebrigtsen could yet feature strongly in the second half of the season.

The injury had disrupted much of his 2025 outdoor campaign, making a measured return in 2026 the priority.