New Delhi, Dec. 18 -- With 260 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) from over 7000 samples tested by National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) in 2024, India remains in the top tier of global doping charts, a recent report from World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) revealed. In percentage terms, a positivity rate of 3.6% puts India ahead of sporting powerhouses such as the USA, China, UK, and Russia, each of who, barring the US, tested more than India. While NADA's National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) tested 7,113 samples last year - 537 blood and 6,576 urine - China tested 24,214 samples, out of which only 43 returned positive findings (0.2%). NADA did not test in the category of dried blood spots (DBS) in 2024. Germany (15,081), France (11,744), Russia (10,514), Italy (9,304) and UK (8,273) are the other countries that tested more than India while USA recorded 6,592 samples for the AAF% of 1.1%. Japan, with 6,117 tests, returned a positivity rate of 0.1%, meaning only nine countries tested over 5000 samples. France returned the second highest number of AAFs behind India at 91, followed by Italy (85), Russia and the USA (76 each) and Germany (54). While India's significant sample size and the corresponding positivity rate is a definite sign of worry, it is also a function of rigorous and transparent testing, said NADA. "There is a problem, and we are not running away from it. Such high numbers are a cause of concern," a senior NADA official told HT. "At the same time, our testing has intensified and we are dealing with the problem head-on. We have expansive education programmes for athletes." An analytical look at NADA's numbers indicate the encouraging trend of higher testing and a plateauing positivity rate. In 2022, NADA tested 3,865 samples, 2023 saw 5,606 samples, and 2025 has already witnessed 7,068 tests with 110 positive results (1.5%). To address the issue of contaminated supplements, NADA said it is working closely with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the National Forensic Science University to strengthen nutrition supplement testing. "From a failure rate of 5.6% in 2019, India is now down to about 1.5% in 2025," the official explained. Despite NADA's efforts, India's consistent dominance of the doping charts is a worry. This marks the third successive occasion of India topping the AAF numbers, following their distinctions in 2022 (125 AAFs) and 2023 (213 AAFs)....