Doping in sports up 14%: World Anti Doping Agency report
The 2015 figures for doping in sports published by WADA show 1,929 failed tests received sanction, up 14% from the previous year. India has been the third worst offender in all three of the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) lists published by WADA for 2013-15. Out of 117 violations, weightlifting accounts for a massive 56, with athletics the only other sport in double figures (21).
Russian doping issues show no signs of going away
Russia heads the charts with 176 violations, with weightlifting and powerlifting combining for 59. An independent enquiry commissioned by WADA published findings in July and December 2016 that Russian sports persons benefited from a state-sponsored doping structure during 2011-15. Russian athletes have been banned by its governing body since end 2015 and in the current list, 48 offenders are listed under the sport.
Russia, Italy, India in 'exclusive' club
With 129 offenses, Italy follows Russia. Russia, Italy and India are the only states crossing the century-mark. France (84) trails a distant fourth while Belgium (67), Turkey and South Africa (59), South Korea (51), USA (50) and Iran (48) make the top 10. The sport with most violations is bodybuilding (270), followed by athletics (242), weightlifting (239), cycling (200), powerlifting (110) and football (108).
When Bolt had his thunder stolen
Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt was the highest profile casualty when results of a retesting of samples done by International Olympic Committee were announced, January. Bolt lost one of nine Olympic medals after Nesta Carter, his 4x100m relay teammate in Beijing, returned a positive test.
Just say NO!
Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a law criminalizing doping in November 2016. India should consider similar initiatives in light of its pitiful track record. International associations should show strict no tolerance to doping infractions. Leaving choice to associations as IOC did for Brazil Olympics is not strong enough and the total ban of Russian athletes by Paralympics Federation is the kind of measure required.
