India cricketers Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma have been added to the National Anti-Doping Agency's (NADA) Registered Testing Pool (RTP) for the second quarter of 2026 - a move that places them under stricter anti-doping monitoring as part of global sporting regulations.
Their inclusion follows India's recent international success and reflects their growing importance in the national setup.
Why Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma were added
The addition of Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma to the RTP highlights their rising profile in Indian cricket, particularly following their involvement in India's recent T20 successes.
Both players replace Smriti Mandhana and Shreyas Iyer in the updated list, which now includes 348 athletes across sports.
Being added to the RTP is not a disciplinary action. Instead,
it is typically applied to elite athletes who compete regularly at the international level or are considered key figures in their sport.
For Axar, a senior all-rounder across formats, and Abhishek, an emerging top-order batter with growing national responsibilities, the inclusion reflects their increasing prominence in India's core player pool.
What is the Registered Testing Pool (RTP)?
The Registered Testing Pool is a group of athletes selected by NADA for advanced and regular anti-doping monitoring.
Athletes placed in this pool must follow strict reporting requirements designed to allow surprise drug testing at any time.
Key RTP requirements include:
- Daily whereabouts updates - Athletes must share their location details regularly
- Fixed testing window - They must be available at a designated time each day for testing
- Unannounced checks - Doping officials can conduct surprise tests anytime
- Strict compliance rules - Missing three tests or failing to provide location details counts as a doping violation
These rules are based on international standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
What substances and methods are monitored?
Athletes in the RTP are tested for banned substances and prohibited methods listed under global anti-doping regulations.
These include:
- Performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids
- Hormones and stimulants
- Blood manipulation techniques
- Masking agents used to hide banned substances
- Certain prohibited medical procedures
The aim is to ensure fairness in sport and safeguard athlete health by preventing misuse of harmful substances.
Which other Indian cricketers are in the RTP list?
With Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma added, a total of 14 cricketers are now part of the Registered Testing Pool.
Other notable Indian men's cricketers in the list include:
- Shubman Gill
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Hardik Pandya
- Rishabh Pant
- Jasprit Bumrah
- KL Rahul
- Arshdeep Singh
- Tilak Varma
From the women's team, the following players remain in the RTP:
- Deepti Sharma
- Shafali Verma
- Renuka Singh Thakur
The inclusion of multiple cricketers reflects the sport's global visibility and the need for consistent monitoring of elite athletes.
Which athletes from other sports are included?
While cricket features several high-profile names, athletics dominates the RTP list, with the number of athletes increasing to 134 in the latest update.
Key athletics names include:
- Avinash Sable (steeplechase)
- Jyothi Yarraji (hurdles)
- Tejaswin Shankar (decathlon)
- Animesh Kujur (sprinting)
- Shaili Singh (long jump)
- M Sreeshankar (long jump)
- Tajinderpal Singh Toor (discus throw)
Other sports also have representation.
From archery:
- Deepika Kumari
- Rakesh Kumar
- Sheetal Devi
From hockey:
- Manpreet Singh
- Harmanpreet Singh
- Amit Rohidas
- Hardik Singh
- Salima Tete
- Savita Punia
- Navneet Kaur
The broad representation reflects NADA's multi-sport monitoring approach.
What happens if athletes fail RTP requirements?
Compliance with RTP rules is mandatory, and violations can carry serious consequences.
Three failures to update whereabouts or missed testing windows are treated as a doping violation - even if no banned substance is detected.
Such violations can lead to:
- Suspension from competition
- Loss of medals or titles
- Temporary or long-term bans
This strict structure ensures accountability across elite sport.
Why this matters for Indian cricket
The addition of Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma signals their growing significance in India's national plans.
It also reflects how cricket - like athletics and Olympic sports - operates under increasingly strict anti-doping frameworks.
For players, RTP inclusion means:
- Higher responsibility
- More frequent monitoring
- Greater compliance with international sporting standards
For fans, it reinforces confidence that top-level competition remains clean and fair.
The RTP system is designed not as a punishment mechanism but as a preventive safeguard.
By placing top athletes such as Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma under routine monitoring, authorities aim to protect both competitive integrity and athlete health - ensuring that sport remains fair at the highest level.
