In the recent Delhi athletic championship, surprising events brought light to the omnipresent yet unsettling issue of doping in sports. Participants were seen fleeing from doping testers and some events bore witness to a single participant, evidently highlighting the deterrent effect of anti-doping measures.
Understanding the Doping Menace
Doping is characterized by athletes’ consumption of specific prohibited substances, aimed at enhancing performance. This dangerous practice is seen across all echelons of sport, from school competitions to national championships, with athletes chasing career breakthroughs and national team positions. The most common drugs used in these endeavors include Anabolic Steroids.
Doping: A Long-standing Issue in Indian Sports
Pervasive syringe culture has been a recurrent sight in stadium bathrooms for as long as one can remember, indicating the lack of effective deterrent measures against doping. The National Anti-Doping Agency’s (NADA) absence in crucial periods leading up to events such as the Delhi championship underlines this shortcoming. When officials do conduct tests, the results are immediate, suggesting a rampant doping issue. Moreover, anti-doping officials are notable by their absence in remote areas where competitions take place, hinting at potentially concealed higher rates of doping.
Root Causes of the Doping Menace
The quick-fix mentality of coaches and parents pushing athletes towards success forms a significant part of the problem. It is this pressure that often leads aspiring athletes to make unethical choices. Additionally, there is a lethargy observed in India’s anti-doping machinery with inadequate measures to deter doping and instill fear of testing. A lack of consistent and stringent anti-doping efforts further exacerbates the situation. The societal and cultural aspects also contribute to this issue, with the lack of effective anti-doping education and awareness playing a significant role.
Potential Solutions to the Problem
A promising approach would be to promote a clean sports culture from a young age, fostering an environment where doping is unacceptable. This could be achieved by integrating honesty and integrity into the fundamental principles of sportsmanship. Strengthening anti-doping measures by increasing the presence of anti-doping officials in competitions, even in remote places, and implementing more stringent and surprise testing, is also crucial.
Awareness campaigns play a pivotal role in educating athletes, coaches, and parents about the adverse effects of doping on athletes’ health and careers. Additionally, reducing the availability of doping mixed inputs and diets, unknowingly consumed by athletes, through the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) can be beneficial.
Government Measures Against Doping
The government has undertaken several steps to mitigate this issue, including the establishment of NADA under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 with a mandate for Dope-free sports in India. The Lok Sabha passed the National Anti-Doping Bill 2021 to provide a regulatory framework for NADA. In addition, the National Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) Act, 1985 prohibits the production, possession, sale, purchase, transport, storage, and consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance. Lastly, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established under the International Olympic Committee to develop, harmonize, and coordinate anti-doping regulations across all sports and countries.