As wrestler Narsingh and shot putter Inderjeet Singh try to prove their innocence in front of the national anti doping agency (NADA) over allegations of substance abuse, the story of Indian athletes getting caught in dope net is nothing new. Since 2009, as many as 687 athletes have been banned for doping-related offences, reports the Times of India. This comes out be an average of 100 athletes being banned every year, as per NADA records presented in the report.

“The Olympic year of 2012 marked a spike of 176 sportspersons being banned for doping, but stricter checking has ensured a drop in numbers in subsequent years. Again, this year, 72 athletes across all categories were censured for dope-related offences till July 18, 2016. Of them, 16 made the list for violations committed on or after January 1 this year. The remaining 56 were included for offences carried over from last year in the run-up to Olympic preparations. Statistics was not available for the years before 2009,” the report said.

It adds that in 2014, India was third in world's doping offenders' list, behind Russia and Italy.

“Track and field athletes (266) form the bulk of doping offenders, followed by weightlifters (169). Most of the offenders on the list are national-level and international-level athletes who compete in junior, senior, school games and University Games. Several athletes tested positive for Nandrolone and Stanozolol (both anabolic steroids). The offenders also included boxers, cyclists, wrestlers, powerlifters, swimmers, judokas and kabaddi players,” the report further said.

The Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro from August 5-21.