Three hundred and seventy-nine Indian sportspersons were caught for doping in the last four years, Sports Minister Vijay Goel informed the Parliament on Tuesday.

In a written reply, Goel listed the number of dope offenders in the last four years, according to information received from the National Anti-Doping Agency, PTI reported.

Ninety six sportspersons returned positive tests in 2013 while the number of dope offenders in 2014 and 2015 were 95 and 120 respectively. Up to October this year, 68 sportspersons flunked dope tests, taking the total number of dope offenders in the last four years to 379.

The question was whether the government has issued any directions to the Sports Authority of India and sports federations to ensure that doping issues do not happen in future.

“To implement anti-doping rules as per the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code, regular dope control programme and create awareness about doping and its ill effects, government has created the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) mandated for dope free sports in India,” Goel said in his reply.

“NADA regularly informs Sports Authority of India (SAI) as well as National Sports Federations (NSFs) about the doping incidence and its further control. NADA also sensitises SAI and NSFs to organise anti-doping awareness sessions for the athletes and support personnel with an aim to discourage the athletes from using banned drugs,” he added.