As per a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report published for 2015, India has featured in the top-3 for the third successive year, with a total of 117 athletes testing positive for banned substances.
Russia leads the list with 176 athletes guilty of doping followed by Italy with 129.
Concerned by the doping menace, the Sports Ministry is trying to gather support on making it a criminal offence so that athletes and coaches found guilty can be sent to jail as per a Rediff report.
The report says that a few days back, Sports Minister Vijay Goel had said that doping need not be criminalised because the existing laws were strong enough to apprehend the violators.
However, on Thursday, the minister changed tack and said there was a real danger of doping spreading to the junior level and to prevent this, fear needed to be instilled in the minds of the athletes.
"I fear that the menace will spread to Universities and school competitions. Earlier, it was limited to only the national level. And not only athletes but coaches, trainers, doctors whoever is involved will be sent to jail. An immediate arrest could be made,” Goel said.
"Sometimes, the athletes unknowingly take banned substances. Due to the mistakes of their coaches, the athletes pay a price but the coach goes scot-free. Everyone who aides in doping will be brought into the law net," he added.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on 'Consultation meeting for drafting Anti-doping legislation' in New Delhi.
Goel said that they were discussing the issue with all stakeholders including the law ministry and there was no specific timeframe to come up with a legislation.
Earlier, five-time world boxing champion MC Mary Kom, while reacting to the report said it was disappointing that India was ranked number 3 in doping. She said the government and Sports Authority of India should conduct more doping tests at every camp so as to curtail the menace.