Khelo India Beach Games 2025 in Diu becomes an anti-doping awareness centre, hundreds of athletes set to benefit

NADA Spreads Anti-Doping Awareness at Khelo India Beach Games 2025

Diu, May 22: The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is strengthening its anti-doping awareness campaign at the 2025 Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG), being held in Diu from May 19. Leading the initiative at the scenic Ghoghla Beach venue is Dr Usha Subhash Nikumbh, Lead Dope Control Officer (LDCO) at NADA, supported by a team of volunteers.

On Friday, the team visited every sporting venue across the beach, distributing colourful informational pamphlets in Hindi and English to educate athletes on the dos and don'ts of clean sport.

We started this initiative in 2018. The idea was to make athletes aware of what all they needed to do to stay clean, Dr Nikumbh told SAI Media.

We go from event to event, from national championships to academies and institutes. We were also at the recently concluded Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) in Bihar. Since we started this programme, there is better awareness among athletes than before and fewer cases of anti-doping rule violations, she added.

Four Key Messages for Clean Sport

Dr Nikumbh and her team distributed four pamphlets titled All About Whereabouts, Be A Fair Play Ambassador, Keep the Best Food Forward, and It Is Your Call.

All About Whereabouts explains the responsibilities of athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP). It outlines the requirement to regularly submit accurate whereabouts information, including home address, email ID, phone number, overnight accommodation, daily schedule, training locations, competition schedules, and a designated 60-minute time slot each day during which they are available for testing.

Be A Fair Play Ambassador provides role-specific guidance for athletes, coaches and parents. Athletes are encouraged to train and compete clean, avoid prohibited substances and methods, submit samples when required, and report Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). Coaches are advised to educate athletes about prohibited substances and doping control procedures, avoid association with sanctioned individuals, and report ADRVs. Parents are encouraged to instil the values of clean sport, educate their children about ADRVs, discourage the use of prohibited substances, and speak up against violations.

It Is Your Call highlights the importance of collective responsibility in eliminating doping from sport by encouraging everyone to report unethical practices and offenders.

Keep the Best Food Forward advises athletes to avoid unnecessary supplements, as they may contain banned substances not listed on product labels and can have harmful side effects. Instead, NADA encourages athletes to rely on a balanced natural diet, adequate sleep and proper hydration to support performance.