Doping is the act of consuming artificial and often illegal substances to gain an advantage over others in sports (anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, stimulants and diuretics, for example).
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is an independent international agency established in 1999 and funded by sports organizations and associated countries. It monitors doping in sports based on the World Anti-Doping Code. At a national level, we have the National Anti-Doping Act of 2022, which has established the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the National Board of Anti-Doping in Sports.
The most common techniques for testing Doping are mass spectrometry and biological passports.
The WADA Code has prescribed an International Standard for Testing and Investigations. It has also laid down detailed procedures to notify athletes, collect samples, conduct tests, and investigate a possible failure to comply with these rules. From the Prohibited list of drugs and substances under the WADA Code, stimulants and Anabolic steroids are the most commonly used drugs. Stimulants speed up the central nervous system and may be used by athletes to reduce fatigue and increase their alertness. They include amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy and methylphenidate (Ritalin), as well as nicotine and caffeine. Anabolic-androgenic steroids are the best-studied class of appearance and performance-enhancing drugs (APEDs). APEDs are used to improve appearance by building muscle mass or to enhance athletic performance.
According to WADA sanctions, punishment for doping may range from a reprimand to a lifetime ban. However, the decision to strip the medal lies with the respective sports organization. In 2013, WADA approved strict punishments for athletes found guilty of doping, increasing the ban from two to four years. The new code came into effect in January 2015.
The nation was hit with one of the biggest doping scandals in April 2015 when the Indian Weightlifting Federation provisionally suspended 21 weightlifters after they tested positive for banned substances across various championships.
India’s top triple-jumper Aishwarya Babu has been banned by the National Anti-Doping Agency’s (NADA) disciplinary panel for four years for using a prohibited anabolic steroid in February 2023.
