Reduced samples translate to fewer positive results

India is placed 16 with a total of 2831 samples analysed in 2016, according to the testing figures released by the World Anti-Doping Agency on Thursday.

In previous years, India was ranked very high with more positive results arising out of bigger number of samples.

The collection of lesser number of samples has helped in the reduction of dope positive results from India in 2016.

India is placed 16 with a total of 2,831 samples analysed in 2016, according to the testing figures released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Thursday.

Altogether 73 of the 2,831 samples, including 132 blood samples, have returned positive results indicating a sharp drop in the number of dope positive cases from the country. It is 2.6 per cent of the total number of samples with no blood sample returning a positive result.

In previous years, India was ranked very high with more positive results arising out of bigger number of samples. In 2013, 93 samples were positive out of 4,274 (ninth), while 99 were positive from 4,340 (10) the following year. In 2015, 110 samples tested positive from an aggregate of 5,162 (eighth).

Among the major sporting disciplines which have contributed significantly to the number of dope cheats in 2016 include athletics (24 of 1,024 samples), weightlifting (14 of 324), powerlifting (14 of 58) and wrestling (five of 158).