India Leads in AIU Doping Violations, Surpassing Kenya

India has surpassed Kenya to become the leading nation on the Athletics Integrity Unit's (AIU) list of ineligible athletes due to doping violations. The AIU's latest update lists 148 suspended Indian athletes, two more than Kenya, up to April 1.

Prominent names among the suspended athletes include Dutee Chand, a national 100m record holder serving a four-year suspension, and middle-distance runner Parvej Khan, who will remain suspended until July 2030. Tamil Nadu sprinter Sekar Dhanalakshmi is also suspended for eight years starting 2025.

In response, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has implemented strict anti-doping measures, identifying local centers linked to doping and requiring coaches to register. Unregistered coaches face blacklisting, which affects their students' eligibility for national awards. Following the 2024 Paris Olympics, the AFI has decentralised national camps, only running them for relay teams, while others have joined private and government training bodies.