Indian Athletes Face New Doping Risk Ahead of Asian Games 2026 as Herbal Supplements Come Under Scanner

With the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games only days away, Indian athletes are facing heightened anti-doping scrutiny — and experts are now warning about a less obvious risk: contamination from herbal supplements and traditional remedies.

The concern has emerged as the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) conducts unannounced anti-doping checks on elite Indian athletes preparing for the Games. Specialists have warned that products widely perceived as natural or harmless can sometimes contain prohibited substances that are not properly declared on their labels.

The Asian Games are scheduled for September 19 to October 4, 2026, making the timing particularly sensitive for athletes approaching the final phase of preparation.

Why Herbal Supplements Are Raising Concern

Herbal and traditional preparations are used by some athletes as part of recovery, general wellness or training routines.

Recent reporting has highlighted products such as ashwagandha, shilajit, bhasmas and kida jadi among supplements used by athletes in national training environments. Experts cited in the reports have expressed concern because some of these products may not undergo the same rigorous purity and batch testing expected of pharmaceutical products.

The problem is not necessarily that an athlete intends to take a banned substance.

The danger can come from contamination, inaccurate labelling or undisclosed ingredients.

That distinction is critical because anti-doping rules operate under a strict-liability principle.

Athletes Remain Responsible for What Is Found in Their Bodies

India's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) explicitly warns athletes that no supplement can be considered completely risk-free.

Its guidance states that supplements can contain substances on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List, while contamination and incorrect labelling can create additional risks. Athletes remain responsible for prohibited substances detected in their samples, regardless of how those substances entered their systems.

NADA therefore recommends that athletes conduct a risk-benefit assessment before using supplements and, where possible, work with a qualified sports nutritionist or dietitian.

The agency also recommends choosing products that have been batch-tested by reliable third-party certification programmes.

Increased Testing Adds Pressure Before the Games

The current concern comes at a time when Indian athletes are already facing increased anti-doping attention.

The AIU's testing programme has brought additional scrutiny to India's elite athletics group in the run-up to the Asian Games.

The Olympic Council of Asia has also emphasised a clean-sport programme ahead of Aichi-Nagoya, with Asian National Anti-Doping Organisations being engaged on risk-based out-of-competition testing, athlete education, supplement safety and Therapeutic Use Exemption procedures.

For athletes, that means the margin for error becomes extremely small during the final weeks before competition.

Recent Indian Cases Add to the Concern

The supplement warning comes against a backdrop of several recent Indian anti-doping cases.

Distance runner Abhishek Pal, who had been selected for India's Asian Games athletics squad in the 5,000m and 10,000m, was served a notice by NADA after a banned substance was reportedly detected in his sample. At the time of the initial reports, he had not been provisionally suspended, and his case remained subject to the anti-doping process.

A second major development followed when wushu athlete Surya Bhanupratap Singh was provisionally suspended by NADA after an adverse finding for enobosarm (Ostarine), a prohibited selective androgen receptor modulator. He was subsequently removed from India's Asian Games squad.

These cases are different from the herbal-supplement concern and should not be treated as evidence that the athletes used contaminated herbal products. The connection is the broader anti-doping pressure surrounding India's preparations.

The Stakes Are Particularly High for Asian Games Athletes

A doping violation can have consequences far beyond missing one competition.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable rules, an athlete can face ineligibility, disqualification and loss of results, while a positive test can also damage years of preparation and an athlete's reputation.

NADA's own guidance warns that supplement-related violations can potentially lead to lengthy bans.

For an athlete who has spent years preparing for the Asian Games, an apparently minor mistake involving an unverified product could therefore have major consequences.

What Athletes Can Do

NADA's guidance places strong emphasis on prevention.

Athletes considering supplements are advised to:

• Evaluate whether the supplement is genuinely necessary.
• Prefer a food-first approach where appropriate.
• Consult qualified sports nutrition professionals.
• Check product authenticity and packaging.
• Avoid products making unsubstantiated health or performance claims.
• Prefer batch-tested supplements from recognised third-party certification programmes.
• Keep records of products and advice received.

The central message is straightforward: “natural” does not automatically mean “safe for competition.”

India's Anti-Doping System Is Also Expanding Awareness

The Indian government has been increasing its focus on anti-doping education.

In June, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the National Dope Testing Laboratory's work and called for mandatory anti-doping awareness sessions for athletes at National Games and Khelo India competitions. The government also said its “Know Your Medicine” initiative would be expanded into regional languages.

NADA has separately required participants connected with the 2026 Asian Games to complete relevant anti-doping education modules.

These measures underline an important shift: anti-doping protection is increasingly being treated not only as a testing issue, but also as an education and athlete-safety issue.

A Delicate Final Stretch

India's athletes are now entering the most important phase of their Asian Games preparation.

Training loads are being fine-tuned, recovery is being monitored and athletes are adapting to conditions they will encounter in Japan. But alongside performance preparation comes another responsibility — ensuring that everything entering an athlete's body is properly verified.

The latest warnings about herbal supplements do not mean that every traditional or herbal product is contaminated, nor do they establish that any particular Indian athlete has committed a violation because of such products.

What they demonstrate is the risk of relying on products whose ingredients and manufacturing standards cannot be independently verified.

With anti-doping authorities increasing scrutiny ahead of Aichi-Nagoya, Indian athletes have little room for uncertainty.

The message from the anti-doping system is clear: winning medals matters, but protecting a clean sporting career starts with knowing exactly what goes into the athlete's body.

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