New Delhi, January 6, 2025: Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, the iconic figure in Indian javelin, has voiced serious concerns over the growing doping crisis among Indian athletes, urging a shift in mindset among both athletes and coaches.
Chopra’s remarks come in the wake of a recent World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report that identified India as the country with the highest number of drug cheats globally in 2022. Additionally, a decade-long global study ranked India as the second worst nation for positive doping cases involving minors.
In a candid interview with Lallantop, Chopra acknowledged the severity of the doping issue, emphasizing the long-term negative impact it has on athletes’ careers and the critical role of coaches in fostering clean sportsmanship. “Nowadays, doping is a big problem in India among our athletes. I would like to tell them that once doping is in the mind, it becomes hard to get rid of it. They start believing that only doping can enhance their performance, which is not true. Hard work, self-belief, and proper guidance from coaches are what take athletes forward. Eat well, rest well, and work hard—that is the right way,” Chopra advised.
Highlighting the consequences of doping, he added, “Once athletes dope, they eventually get caught during tests and face bans of 2-4 years. This essentially ends their careers. If they want to play at a high level, they need to change their mindset. I also request coaches to discourage doping and keep athletes away from it.”
Chopra, who secured Olympic gold in 2020 and a silver medal in the 2024 Olympics, further stressed that curbing doping would improve the overall level of sports in India. “Currently, any talented youngster who starts excelling in sports risks falling into the trap of doping. That is a significant issue. They must also be careful about what they consume outside,” he cautioned.
