World Anti-Doping Agency president Witold Banka's visit to India comes at a time when the country's doping cases are a major cause of concern. India has topped the global doping charts for the last three years.
Banka's visit coincides with the results of WADA's Global Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigations Network (GAIIN) project, which has led to the seizure of several tons of performance-enhancing drugs.
The project, which involved more than 20 countries, has revealed that India is the biggest producer of PEDs. Banka has called for a collaborative approach to tackle the issue, involving law enforcement agencies, national anti-doping agencies, and intelligence sharing.
India has been at the top of the doping charts for the past three years, and WADA is concerned about the scale of the problem. Banka has praised the Indian government's willingness to work with WADA to tackle the issue.
WADA has concerns about the results management procedures in India's National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) and has called for an increase in the number of tests, investment in education, and intelligence investigations.
Banka has also emphasized the need for intelligence-driven testing, rather than random testing, to catch those who are cheating the system.
The WADA president has also highlighted the issue of doping among minors in India and has called for the criminalization of those who give prohibited substances to minors.
Banka has expressed confidence in WADA's ability to tackle the doping epidemic, citing an increase in the organization's budget from $37 million to over $57 million.
