By Sushant singh ~

India’s Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, has taken one of the biggest decisions in the country’s fight against doping. The Centre has proposed amendments to the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022, to criminalise organised doping-related activities.

The proposed amendments are expected to be introduced during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) placing the draft Bill in the public domain for public feedback.

The amendments seek to criminalise organised doping networks by targeting the trafficking, illegal supply, administration, and commercial distribution of prohibited performance-enhancing substances and methods.

When the proposal to criminalise organised doping first came into the picture, many athletes and coaches contacted NNIS Sports seeking clarity. The biggest question was whether athletes who test positive would face imprisonment.

The Ministry has now clarified that the proposed law is not aimed at athletes who merely test positive for a prohibited substance. Instead, it specifically targets those involved in organised doping operations.

The proposed offences include:

  • Trafficking prohibited substances.
  • Unauthorised sale and distribution of banned substances.
  • Administering prohibited substances to athletes for doping.
  • Supplying banned substances to minors.
  • Organised criminal activities linked to doping.
  • Selling prohibited substances without prescribed labelling.
  • Advertisements or paid promotions encouraging the use of banned substances.

The government has made it clear that athletes will not be treated as criminals simply for committing an anti-doping rule violation. Unless an athlete is found to be involved in offences such as trafficking, organised supply, or other criminal activities, their cases will continue to be dealt with under the existing anti-doping framework.

The Ministry has also stated that the proposed amendments are in line with India’s commitments under the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport and are consistent with the approach endorsed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

It is worth noting that after Parliament passed the National Anti-Doping Act in 2022, WADA raised concerns that certain provisions were not fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. The objections primarily related to:

  • Government control over disciplinary and appeal panels.
  • Independence of anti-doping adjudication.
  • Appointment mechanisms.

The new draft amendments are expected to address these concerns while also strengthening India’s legal framework against organised doping.

WHY DOES INDIA NEED TO CRIMINALISE ORGANISED DOPING?

India continues to face a serious doping challenge. The country topped the list of global doping offenders in the Athletics Integrity Unit’s (AIU) June 2026 report and has consistently ranked among the countries with the highest number of anti-doping rule violations in WADA statistics over the years.

During the recent WADA Summit held in Delhi, WADA President Witold Bańka said the global body is closely monitoring India’s anti-doping measures and resources. He also pledged a comprehensive and coordinated crackdown on the supply chain of banned substances.

Bańka also confirmed that WADA will collaborate with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the Sports Ministry moves to criminalise doping suppliers.

It is also worth noting that the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) this year has placed India in Category A, indicating an “extremely high” risk of doping.

Another major concern has been the open sale and promotion of prohibited substances on several social media platforms in India. Many pages have openly advertised and sold banned performance-enhancing substances with little or no enforcement action. If the proposed amendments become law, such individuals and networks could face criminal prosecution.

The punishment for these offences will be determined under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), depending on the nature and seriousness of the offence.

With India’s current global standing and the growing number of doping positives, these amendments could mark a significant shift from merely punishing athletes to dismantling the criminal networks that fuel doping in Indian sport.

The big question now is: Will criminalising organised doping finally help curb this menace and improve India’s image on the international sporting stage?