India’s wrestling scene, a rising star in Olympic sports, is grappling with a doping crisis that threatens to tarnish its golden reputation. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has suspended 19 wrestlers, including five minors, making wrestling the second-most dope-offending sport in the country, according to a July 23, 2025, report from Rohtak, Haryana. The recent provisional suspension of U23 world champion and Olympian Reetika Hooda has reignited alarm, exposing a dangerous trend fueled by the lure of quick success and lack of awareness.

Indian wrestlers, particularly women, have soared to global prominence, outshining powerhouses like Japan and the USA to clinch junior team championships. With medals at the Olympics, World Championships, and Asian Games, wrestling has brought fame, government jobs, and hefty cash rewards. Yet, this success has a dark side. The promise of glory has driven some athletes and parents to risky shortcuts, with local “nutrition suppliers” in Haryana peddling dubious supplements promising performance boosts. “A reputed wrestler suggested supplements from a local supplier, despite our coach’s warnings,” admitted the father of a minor wrestler now facing a doping case, highlighting the desperation for quick results.

The cost of a wrestler’s diet—5-6 kg almonds, 7-8 kg desi ghee, 1.5 kg paneer, and 3 kg milk daily—can exceed ₹70,000 monthly, unaffordable for many. Unscrupulous suppliers exploit this, offering budget-based supplements laced with unknown substances. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) acknowledges the issue but notes the challenge of monitoring every athlete. “These suppliers sell without bills, so wrestlers can’t trace the source to clear their names,” a WFI official said.

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At Rohtak’s Sir Chhotu Ram Stadium, a hub for stars like Sakshi Malik and Reetika Hooda, the mood is grim. Coach Mandeep Saini, who trains 80 women wrestlers, insists he never recommends supplements, even glucose. “Once they leave the centre, I can’t control what they consume,” he said. Parents, eager for their children to emulate Olympic heroes, sometimes ignore coaches, chasing instant success. “It takes 10 years to compete globally, but some lack patience,” said Asian medallist Mansi Ahlawat.

The absence of national camps, disrupted by the 2020 pandemic and 2023 protests, has worsened the problem, leaving wrestlers unmonitored at private centres. NADA’s regular testing resumed only in March 2025, creating gaps where doping went unchecked. With India’s wrestling potential soaring since Sushil Kumar’s 2008 Olympic bronze, stakeholders must act swiftly to protect young athletes from shady suppliers and ensure the sport’s bright future isn’t derailed by scandal.

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