IN A MOVE to intensify the fight against doping in Indian sport, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President, Witold Bańka, met Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Director, Manoj Sashidhar, in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation between international anti-doping bodies and Indian law enforcement agencies to tackle organised doping networks.
The discussions centred on collaboration between WADA and Indian law enforcement to combat organised doping syndicates, trafficking of banned performance-enhancing substances, and criminal networks enabling doping in sports. Bańka emphasised the importance of intelligence-led investigations, stating that cooperation with agencies like the CBI is critical under WADA’s Global Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigations Network (GAIIN). The meeting reflects a shift from traditional testing-based enforcement to a criminal investigation approach, targeting the supply chains and facilitators behind doping.
The WADA chief’s meeting with the CBI is part of a high-profile multi-day visit to India, during which he has engaged with key stakeholders. In a meeting with the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) he held discussions on strengthening anti-doping systems and safeguarding sporting integrity. He met Sports Secretary, Hari Ranjan Rao, to underline the role of governance, policy reforms, and institutional coordination.
