The fight against doping in world athletics is going through one of its most delicate moments. While some countries have managed to strengthen their control and prevention systems, others continue to show worrying figures that call into question the effectiveness of their internal policies. In this context, India has become the center of attention for World Athletics after being classified as a country of “extremely high risk” in anti-doping matters.

The decision reflects a concern that has been building for years. The Board of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) decided to reclassify the Athletics Federation of India from Category B to Category A, the highest level of risk contemplated under anti-doping regulations. This measure implies stricter controls, greater international supervision, and increasing pressure on the Asian country’s sports authorities.

India accumulates alarming anti-doping violation figures

World Athletics’ concern does not arise from an isolated incident, but rather from a sustained trend over time. Between 2022 and 2025, India has remained among the countries with the highest number of anti-doping rule violations in world athletics. In 2022, it recorded 48 cases, in 2023 it added 63, and in 2024 it reached 71, becoming the country with the highest number of reported violations that year.

The situation does not appear to be improving in 2025 either. So far, India has already accumulated 30 cases and once again leads the global list, although the figures could still increase due to reporting delays. This scenario has raised alarms within the AIU, which considers the measures adopted by the national federation insufficient to reverse a problem that directly affects the credibility of its athletes and their international results.

World Athletics demands deeper reforms in India

David Howman, president of the AIU, acknowledged that the situation in India has been a cause for concern for years. According to him, the level of risk has been high for a long time, and the national anti-doping program has failed to respond adequately to the magnitude of the problem. Although the Athletics Federation of India has introduced some reforms, the international body believes there is still a significant gap between the measures implemented and the real needs of the system.

From now on, the AIU will work directly with Indian sports authorities to strengthen controls, improve case detection, and raise prevention standards. Pressure will increase for coaches, officials, and athletes in a country where the growth of athletics has been accompanied by a troubling accumulation of sanctions. While India faces this tightening, Bahrain appears as the opposite example within international athletics, after showing concrete progress in its control policies and in reducing risks associated with doping.