MONACO (AP) — Track and field officials have designated India as an “extremely high” risk for doping, which has led to tighter testing measures for athletes from Botswana, particularly its strong men’s sprint team, as preparations ramp up for the 2027 World Championships.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) made this announcement on Monday, shortly after India, which is vying to host the 2036 Olympics, welcomed leaders from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). These leaders urged India to address its history of doping issues.
David Howman, chairman of the AIU, stated, “The doping situation in India has posed a significant risk for quite some time. Sadly, the effectiveness of the country’s anti-doping program does not reflect the serious nature of this issue.”
According to the AIU, India has reported the highest number of positive doping tests in track and field since 2024. As a result, Indian national team athletes will now face stricter minimum testing requirements.
India has been added to a list of high-risk countries alongside Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, and Ukraine. Meanwhile, Botswana, Cuba, and Peru have been categorized as second-tier risks; their athletes must submit at least three surprise samples during training to compete in major upcoming events, including next year’s World Championships in Beijing.
Botswana’s athletes will also undergo increased testing as the country prepares to host the World Relays in Gaborone next month. This decision follows insufficient responses to prior warnings about low testing levels and the rising performance of athletes on the international stage, according to Howman.
Botswana made a notable showing at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, securing two gold medals and a bronze in the men’s 400 meters, both in individual and relay events. Meanwhile, Cuba achieved one gold and two bronze medals in Tokyo but had the “highest percentage of athletes with zero out-of-competition tests among the top 40 nations,” as noted by the AIU.
On a positive note, Bahrain’s risk status was lowered, with Howman acknowledging significant improvements in their anti-doping situation.
The AIU operates independently from the World Athletics governing body and has held national federations accountable for their doping programs since 2019.
