Hyderabad: At a time when many youngsters in India view sports as a viable career option, an RTI application filed by TOI has revealed a discernible rise in the number of junior athletes using banned substances to improve their performance in key competitions.The RTI filed with the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) shows that while India witnessed a sharp decline in overall doping cases among athletes in 2025, the number of minors testing positive rose. As many as 20 minor athletes, including seven girls competing at the national level, tested positive for doping in 2025. The figure marks a steady increase from 15 cases in 2024. No cases were reported in 2023.Bihar reported the highest number of minors testing positive for doping followed by Odisha, Delhi and Uttarakhand.Wrestling accounted for the highest number of positive tests among minors, followed by weightlifting, kabaddi and athletics. Two junior skaters from Jammu and Kashmir were also found guilty of doping violations as they tested positive for acetazolamide, a banned substance generally used to mask other doping substances. Experts pointed out that it was unusual for skaters to experiment with such drugs.The most commonly detected substance was 19-norandrosterone, a metabolite of the anabolic steroid nandrolone. According to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines, the presence of the substance above 2 ng/ml in urine constitutes a doping offence. Another frequently detected drug was furosemide, a diuretic banned by WADA for its use in masking performance-enhancing substances.Sports experts and former athletes blame low awareness, peer influence and unchecked practices in private training academies for the menace.Juniors mostly misguided:“There is no proper guidance given to minors, and are often unaware of the kind of supplements they are consuming. Seniors know the consequences but provide such substances to improve performance in tournaments,” Karnam Malleswari, India’s bronze medallist in weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, told TOI.She added that easy internet access has worsened the issue, with young athletes searching online for steroids and performance-enhancing drugs without understanding the health risks or consequences.Quick results driving use“Minors tend to imitate others blindly. Many look for quick results, and ultimately end up damaging their health and careers. There is a need to create greater awareness among parents and young athletes to dispel the myth that steroids and performance-enhancing drugs can deliver quick success,” said Bhaskar Chandra Bhatt, former head coach of the Indian elite women’s boxing team and SAI high-performance director for boxing.Healthcare professionals associated with sports warned that prolonged use of steroids and related substances can severely damage kidneys and other vital organs. “In wrestling and weightlifting, where steroid abuse is more prevalent, athletes face a high risk of tendon and muscle tears due to excessive strain on the body. The prolonged use of performance-enhancing drugs can also severely affect metabolism and hormonal balance, leading to long-term damage to sexual and reproductive health,” Deepthi Nandan Reddy, senior consultant – orthopedics & sports injuries, Apollo Hospitals.Para -athletes also under scannerThe RTI data also revealed doping violations among para-athletes. Over the last two years, 12 para-athletes tested positive, most of them from powerlifting and canoeing. In 2024 alone, three para canoe athletes from Madhya Pradesh were found guilty of doping violations.
