India’s Doping Crisis in 2025: Full List of Athletes Suspended After Positive Tests

India’s long-running battle with doping took a disturbing turn in 2025, as multiple athletes across disciplines were provisionally suspended or handed lengthy bans after testing positive for prohibited substances. Data released by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) revealed that the problem is no longer confined to a single sport, instead cutting across cricket, athletics, football, boxing, weightlifting and polo.

The issue resurfaced sharply on January 5 after Uttarakhand cricketer Rajan Kumar tested positive for three banned substances. His case became the latest reminder of how widespread and deeply rooted doping has become in Indian sport.

Officials and administrators have expressed concern that national and state-level competitions in 2025 repeatedly uncovered alarming scenes, including washrooms littered with syringes and medical waste allegedly used to administer performance-enhancing drugs. The scale of the issue reportedly drew the attention of the Union Sports Ministry, prompting directives for stricter enforcement and more aggressive testing.

What has troubled regulators the most is the diversity of sports affected. From grassroots competitions to elite-level tournaments, athletes from both individual and team sports were found to have violated anti-doping rules, damaging India’s sporting credibility at home and abroad.

Below is the complete list of Indian athletes who were suspended or provisionally barred by NADA in 2025 following adverse analytical findings.

Full List of Indian Athletes Suspended for Doping in 2025

Siddhant Sharma (Polo)
Polo professional Siddhant Sharma was provisionally suspended after testing positive for cocaine. A two-goal handicap player, Sharma competed extensively during the 2025 season, featuring in high-profile tournaments including the Indian Open. His suspension came despite a strong competitive year that saw him play 27 matches and reach multiple semi-finals.

Rajan Kumar (Cricket)
Rajan Kumar tested positive for drostanolone, metenolone and clomifene. He last played for Uttarakhand in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His case marked only the third instance of an Indian cricketer failing a doping test. The development was particularly significant as he had been picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the 2026 IPL season before the suspension.

S Dhanalakshmi (Athletics – Sprinting)
Tamil Nadu sprinter S Dhanalakshmi received an eight-year ban after failing a doping test for the second time in her career. She tested positive for drostanolone, triggering the maximum penalty under anti-doping regulations. Dhanalakshmi had recently clocked a personal best of 11.06 seconds in the women’s 100m at national championships.

Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi (Football)
India women’s midfielder Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi was provisionally suspended following a second doping violation. A regular for the national team since 2017, she earned 48 international caps and was a key performer in the Indian Women’s League before the adverse finding led to a lengthy suspension.

Gaurav Patel (Javelin Throw)
Junior javelin thrower Gaurav Patel tested positive for norandrosterone. Considered a promising prospect, Patel had recorded a personal best of 71.42m in 2025 and ranked among the top under-20 throwers in the country before being declared ineligible.

Khusboo Kumari (Weightlifting)
Weightlifter Khusboo Kumari was provisionally suspended after testing positive for ligandrol. She had won gold at the 2025 Khelo India University Games and finished fourth at the Senior National Championships, making her suspension a major setback for Indian weightlifting.

Achalaveer Karwasra (Boxing)
Boxer Achalaveer Karwasra failed a doping test after testing positive for metandienone. Competing in the 80kg category, he had represented Haryana at multiple national championships and built a solid domestic record before his suspension.

A Systemic Challenge for Indian Sport

The 2025 cases highlight a troubling pattern: repeated violations, young athletes falling foul of banned substances, and insufficient awareness or deterrence at the grassroots level. Experts warn that unless education, testing frequency and accountability improve, India risks long-term damage to its sporting reputation.

As authorities tighten checks and athletes face harsher penalties, the coming years will test whether Indian sport can effectively confront its doping crisis or continue to battle recurring scandals.