Section Article

THE BRIEF EVOLUTION OF ANTI-DOPING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS
Author(s): Om Prakash Meena

Abstract
The use of performance-enhancing substances in sports has long been a contentious issue undermining the principles of fair play athlete health and integrity in competition. Anti-doping policies and programs have evolved over decades in response to escalating instances of doping technological advances in substance development and increasing globalization of competitive sports. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical development of anti-doping measures tracing their emergence from early 20th-century ad hoc regulations to the establishment of institutional frameworks such as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It examines the interplay of scientific innovation regulatory governance and international collaboration in shaping contemporary anti-doping protocols. The study also evaluates the effectiveness of testing methodologies enforcement strategies and educational programs emphasizing how evolving legal ethical and social considerations influenced policy design. By critically reviewing the trajectory of anti-doping initiatives and their associated challenges this research highlights the lessons learned identifies persistent gaps and proposes insights for future program enhancements that balance deterrence athlete rights and the promotion of clean sport.