AFI will track coaches and facilities linked to doping; Mandatory coach registration from 2025

Last update:January 12, 2025, 11:59 pm EST

From this season, AFI will introduce the obligation to officially register coaches on its website.

The Indian Athletes’ Federation intends to crack down on doping cases in the country. (Photo: Unsplash)

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) will make it mandatory for all coaches – skilled and unskilled – in the country to register on its portal from this season if they wish to continue training athletes to take part in competitions organized by the national body.

In addition, there is the creation of an anti-doping unit whose task is to identify coaches suspected of “involvement in doping of their players” and to draw up a list of training centers that serve as “hiding places” for cheaters based on the recommendation of a high-level superior. a commission with authority to deal with the threat.

AFI will share this information with the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) established by World Athletics.

Concerned about the rising cases of doping among Indian track and field athletes, the AFI at its recent annual general meeting in Chandigarh made it mandatory for all coaches to register, failing which they will be blacklisted.

“We will make it mandatory from this year. Regardless of whether they are qualified or not, coaches will need to register on the AFI portal (just like athletes do). If they do not do this, they will not be able to train their athletes to participate in our events,” a top AFI official told PTI.

“The registration of coaches was one of the recommendations (of the commission) and we have already started it. However, from this year it will become mandatory, and state entities will have to be involved in this task.”

The AFI has constituted a high-powered committee headed by Delhi Police Special Cell Commissioner Sagarpreet Hooda to probe the doping issue and its recommendations have been published.

It is learned that AFI has in fact started the registration process but has found that a large number of coaches are reluctant to register. About 700-800 coaches were registered while the AFI expected 10 times this number.

Therefore, from this year, AFI will introduce the obligation to register coaches. This is even more important because AFI hopes to have over 40,000 qualified athletes by 2036, and for this it needs honest coaches.

“Most of the doping in Indian athletics comes from the involvement of coaches. That is why we require trainers to register with the AFI. It cannot continue like this or India may be suspended,” an AFI official said.

AFI’s legal adviser, Parth Goswami, who is also a member of World Athletics’ disciplinary and appeals panels, urged the national federation to follow the recommendations of the influential committee to which he was specially invited.

“The number of registered trainers is very less. There is some reluctance on the part of coaches to register because they think the federation may take action,” Goswami said.

It was also learned that during the General Meeting on January 7-8, the top brass of the AIF wanted the state units in their jurisdictions to prepare a list of buses that had not self-registered and publish it by the next General Meeting.

State entities can even ask their governments, which pay coaches’ salaries, to take action.

“It will undoubtedly not be an easy task. But we have to do it and state entities will also have to act if we want to tackle this menace,” an AFI official said.

Anti-doping cell responsible for tracking coaches and training centers involved in doping

On the recommendation of the high-powered commission, the AFI will establish an anti-doping unit to track coaches and training centers suspected of involvement in doping.

“One of the recommendations of the high-powered committee is to prepare a list of coaches and other suspected doping players to know who and which coaches are systematically promoting doping,” Goswami said.

“Another is to prepare a list of centers across India that serve as safe houses and where athletes are trained to consume banned substances. There are many safe houses and centers where you can avoid out-of-competition testing,” he said.

“I believe this anti-doping cell can work wonders. Most doping cases involve the use of anabolic steroids or drugs that are not readily available on the market. This proves intentional doping and most likely the involvement of coaches. It is therefore necessary to implement the committee’s recommendations.”

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a news agency feed – PTI)