NADA DG Anant Kumar calls for collective action to tackle doping in Indian sports

National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) Director-General Anant Kumar has called for coordinated efforts across India's sporting ecosystem to reduce doping and strengthen awareness around clean sport.

Speaking at a National Roundtable on Doping Prevention in Sports in New Delhi, Kumar said tackling the use of banned substances required athletes, coaches, support staff, administrators and other stakeholders to work towards a common objective.

“We can be successful in reducing the incidences of doping in sports only if everyone involved works towards that,” Kumar said.

The roundtable was organised by the Association of Sports Industry Professionals (ASIP) and the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad, at the India Habitat Centre on August 18. It brought together representatives from different areas of Indian sport to discuss prevention, education, ethics and accountability.

Focus on prevention and athlete support

The discussions examined several factors that can contribute to doping vulnerabilities, including socio-economic pressures, the perceived high rewards and low risks associated with doping, and the dangers posed by contaminated nutritional supplements. Participants also discussed the responsibility of athlete support personnel in preventing doping violations.

ASIP president Shaji Prabhakaran said the initiative was aimed at complementing NADA's awareness efforts.

“The idea was to strengthen NADA’s efforts in spreading awareness about the evils and adverse impact of doping,” Prabhakaran said.

Dr Kanishka Pandey, Head of the IMT Centre for Sports Research and Development, linked the issue to India's long-term sporting ambitions, including its aspirations to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

“As India aspires to host the Olympic Games in 2036, doping remains one of the biggest challenges,” Pandey said, stressing the importance of clean sport and Olympic values.

The participants included former India goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan, National Dope Testing Laboratory Director Dr P.L. Sahoo, sports medicine specialist Col. Dr Sandipan Das Sarma and sports psychologist Bhargavi Ojale, among others.

ASIP and IMT Ghaziabad will prepare a report and white paper based on the discussions, with recommendations aimed at strengthening doping prevention and promoting a cleaner sporting environment in India.