India’s 2036 Olympics Bid Faces Major Hurdles as IOC Flags Governance and Doping Issues | Reports

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Cric News India

July 5, 2025 0 401

IOC raises serious concerns For India

The IOC raised concerns over IOA’s governance, doping record, and athlete performance hurdling India’s participation.

India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympic Games in Ahmedabad has encountered a major roadblock after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) flagged key concerns that must be addressed before any serious bid discussions can continue.

According to The Indian Express, the IOC has raised three major red flags: internal governance issues within the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), India’s alarming doping record, and underwhelming Olympic performances. These concerns have significantly weakened India’s credibility as a potential host for the world’s biggest sporting event.

Cricket’s inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics had earlier been viewed as a strategic move to win India’s support and spark greater national interest in the Games. Despite these positive signs, the IOC has made it clear that India’s bid cannot progress without urgent reforms.

One of the key concerns centres around mismanagement within the IOA. The IOC highlighted unpaid bills, internal conflicts—particularly involving IOA President PT Usha—and financial irregularities as serious governance problems. The IOC had even halted financial support to the IOA last year due to these ongoing issues.

“It has been communicated very candidly that while India can continue preparing for its bid to host future Olympics, the country has to address these issues first. This was, in a nutshell, the big takeaway from this meeting,” a source told The Indian Express.

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The second major issue is India’s poor doping record. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) ranks India among the top countries for drug violations in sports. This has raised global concerns over the country’s ability to ensure a clean sporting environment.

India’s Olympic track record has also been underwhelming. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, India won just six medals and failed to secure a single gold, finishing 71st overall. Despite being the world’s most populous country, India has struggled to perform consistently across Olympic disciplines.

Ahmedabad had been seen as a strong candidate to host the 2036 Olympics, especially with growing support from senior IOC officials. However, unless India can resolve these governance, doping, and performance issues, the IOC is unlikely to advance any serious discussions regarding its hosting bid.