National Anti-Doping Act, 2021: Tracing Potholes and Assessing Impact

Abstract

Doping has emerged as a major roadblock in the development of sports in India. The World
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) lists India among the top three doping violators in the world,
third to only Russia and Italy [2]. Doping is a major threat to the integrity of the sports. Use of banned substances that help humans go beyond their natural abilities create an imbalance in the sport, which affects the viewing experience of the audience, integrity of the sport, and is a fraud against other competitors. As such, it has become important for India to regulate its
athletes and develop the sporting industry further. Although India has always taken a strict stance against doping and abuse of banned drugs [3], the Indian authorities have not been able to supervise the conduct of its athletes, as a result of which they have consistently produced positive doping results, regardless of the efficacy of the testing regime [4].