Sports Ministry Orders SOPs for Athlete Fitness Tests, Mandates Supplement Screening

The Sports Ministry has directed NCSSR to create sport-specific fitness testing SOPs for Indian athletes and mandated pre-purchase testing of dietary supplements to prevent doping and ensure athlete safety

New Delhi | March 13, 2026: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has instructed the National Centre for Sports Sciences and Research to develop standardized fitness testing protocols for athletes representing the country in international competitions.

According to officials, the new system will introduce sport-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline the medical examination and fitness evaluation process. All reports generated from these assessments will be required to be uploaded to the National Sports Repository System to ensure centralized record-keeping and monitoring.

The ministry has communicated the decision to the Indian Olympic Association and various National Sports Federations, stating that the process will be coordinated by the Sports Authority of India.

Officials said the initiative aligns with the objectives of the Khelo India Policy 2025, which emphasises the expanded use of sports science and technology to improve athlete performance and monitoring.

In another key decision, the ministry has made it mandatory for all dietary supplements intended for athletes to undergo testing before procurement. The supplements must be verified either by the National Forensic Sciences University or the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research to ensure they do not contain banned substances or harmful ingredients.

National Sports Federations have been directed to maintain detailed records of supplement test reports and batch information to enable traceability if required.

Currently, elite athletes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme are monitored through fitness tests conducted by the Mission Olympic Cell and federations during training camps. Once the SOPs are finalized, NCSSR will oversee the scientific monitoring, validation and review of the entire process.

Officials added that athlete fitness assessments covering medical status, biomechanics and physical performance are generally conducted every three months, particularly before major competitions. However, the ministry has not yet announced a timeline for the full implementation of the new system.

The move also comes amid concerns over doping in Indian sports, as the World Anti-Doping Agency has repeatedly reported high doping positivity rates from India in recent years.

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