India is ushering in a stringent new era for sports integrity, with the government poised to criminalise the supply of banned substances and adopting a firm stance against treating prestigious multi-sport events like the Asian Games as mere exposure opportunities.
These dual policy shifts underscore a strong commitment to combating doping and fostering a culture of performance-driven excellence.
Doping Suppliers Face Jail Time Under New Amendments
As per India Today, The National Anti-Doping Act, 2022, is set for further modifications to introduce criminal penalties for those involved in the supply chain of prohibited substances. The proposed amendments specifically target the trafficking, distribution, and administration of banned drugs to athletes. Offenders, including medical practitioners found knowingly prescribing such substances, could face imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to two lakh rupees, or both.
This significant legislative push comes as India continues to grapple with a high incidence of doping violations. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics recently placed India at the top of its global list of doping offenders, with 162 athletes and support personnel currently serving sanctions. The Sports Ministry has stated that the objective behind criminalising these acts is to dismantle the “organised supply chain” and the “wider ecosystem” enabling doping, rather than solely punishing athletes for rule violations. The draft amendments, whose public consultation period concluded on June 18, 2026, are anticipated to be tabled during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, scheduled to begin on July 20, 2026. Exceptions are noted for athletes with Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE) and doctors handling emergency situations.
Asian Games: Performance, Not Participation, is Key
In a clear directive, Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has unequivocally stated that major international events such as the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games are not to be considered “exposure tours”. Speaking in New Delhi on Thursday, Dr. Mandaviya emphasised that only athletes with a “realistic chance of winning a medal” and who can demonstrate good performance will receive government clearance for the upcoming Asian Games 2026. The Minister highlighted that the selection criteria mandate consideration only for athletes ranked among the top six in continental rankings.
The Asian Games 2026 are scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. The Indian contingent for the event is expected to be capped at 600 athletes. Dr. Mandaviya clarified that “exposure can be gained elsewhere” and sought to deter the practice of athletes participating merely to secure government jobs. He affirmed that while the Ministry would fully support federations and individual athletes with genuine training and exposure plans for future events like the LA 2028 Olympics, participation in the Asian Games simply to fill numbers would not be approved. This directive follows recent public concerns raised by athletes such as table tennis star Manika Batra and equestrian Anush Aggarwala regarding selection processes for the Asian Games.
These decisive steps by the Indian government signal a robust commitment to fostering a clean, merit-based, and globally competitive sporting environment, aiming to elevate India’s standing on the international sports stage.