Elite Indian athletes are facing heightened scrutiny from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) as they prepare for the upcoming Asian Games, with experts warning that the widespread use of unverified herbal supplements poses a significant risk of triggering Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF). The AIU has launched a series of unannounced, targeted anti-doping tests across major training hubs, including Patiala, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar, as part of an intensified effort to monitor the national squad.
This increased surveillance comes against the backdrop of a concerning anti-doping record for the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), which has been upgraded to the AIU’s highest-risk category, Category A. With 162 recorded anti-doping rule violations, India currently leads the AIU’s global registry, surpassing both Kenya and Russia. AIU Chairman David Howman has publicly criticized the current domestic anti-doping measures, describing them as inadequate relative to the scale of performance-enhancing drug use within the country.
The Hidden Doping Risk in Herbal Remedies
National training camps have seen a surge in the use of various herbal products, including ashwagandha, shilajit, bhasmas, and the highly sought-after Himalayan fungus, Cordyceps sinensis, commonly known as kida jadi. While these substances are often used for their perceived performance benefits, they are rarely subjected to rigorous purity testing. Experts warn that commercial batches of these products may contain trace amounts of substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Despite the high cost—with kida jadi fetching up to ₹20 lakh per kilogram—many athletes, including sprinters and throwers, invest significant portions of their personal savings into these regimens. A critical issue identified by anti-doping specialists is that many athletes fail to declare these herbal supplements on their mandatory disclosure forms. This lack of transparency, combined with the high sensitivity of international laboratory testing, creates a substantial risk of an AAF that could lead to career-ending sanctions.
Unprecedented Surveillance and Testing
The AIU’s current testing drive represents an unprecedented level of oversight for Indian athletes. Unlike previous attempts at monitoring, such as the limited testing during an overseas camp in South Africa, the current operation is highly targeted and unannounced. Officials have focused their efforts on key training centers like the Anju Bobby Sports Foundation and the SAI South Centre, aiming to capture a more accurate picture of the athletes' physiological status.
While athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) are bound by strict location reporting requirements, those outside the pool face fewer penalties for missing unannounced checks. However, the AIU’s aggressive approach suggests a shift toward more comprehensive monitoring of the entire elite pipeline. Coaches and support staff have noted that this level of scrutiny is significantly higher than what has been seen prior to previous major international championships.
Expert Guidance on Supplement Safety
Addressing the growing crisis, Mihira Khopkar, who served as the lead nutritionist for the Indian team at the Paris Olympics, has issued a stern warning to elite competitors. Khopkar emphasized that athletes must move away from locally sourced or unverified natural remedies and rely strictly on scientifically validated supplements that have undergone independent, third-party quality verification.
The reliance on traditional remedies, while culturally ingrained, is increasingly incompatible with the stringent requirements of modern international anti-doping protocols. Experts suggest that while domestic testing by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) might occasionally miss specific trace compounds, the sophisticated analytical methods utilized by international WADA-accredited laboratories are far more likely to detect prohibited substances, even in minute quantities.
Future Implications for Indian Athletics
The classification of the Athletics Federation of India as a Category A risk by the AIU signals a long-term challenge for the country’s sports administration. The federation must now contend with not only the immediate threat of positive tests during the Asian Games but also the broader necessity of reforming its domestic anti-doping infrastructure. The current situation highlights a disconnect between traditional training practices and the global standards required for international competition.
As the Asian Games approach, the pressure on athletes to perform while maintaining a clean record remains intense. The unresolved question is whether the AFI can implement effective educational programs to ensure that athletes understand the risks associated with herbal supplements before they face the consequences of an AAF. For now, the focus remains on the immediate threat of testing, with the potential for further disciplinary actions if the current trend of violations continues.
