In a significant milestone for Indian athletics, javelin thrower Sachin Yadav has been added to the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) of the World Athletics' Athletics Integrity Unit for the first quarter of 2026. This places him alongside Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra as the only two Indian athletes currently in this stringent anti-doping monitoring system.
A Breakthrough Season Leads to RTP Inclusion
The 26-year-old Yadav's inclusion follows a spectacular 2025 season that marked his arrival on the global stage. His performances were headlined by a silver medal at the Asian Athletics Championships and a highly impressive fourth-place finish at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Notably, at the World Championships, he outperformed both Neeraj Chopra and then-reigning world champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan.
It was at this premier event that Yadav achieved a personal best throw of 86.27 metres, showcasing his immense potential. Chopra, who has been a constant in the RTP for the past five years, had an uncharacteristic outing in Tokyo, finishing eighth and breaking his long streak of podium finishes in international competitions.
Training and the Road to Major Events
Currently honing his skills under the guidance of former Russian world champion and Indian national coach, Sergey Makarov, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, Yadav is poised for a crucial year. The 2026 calendar is packed with major multi-sport events, including the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games scheduled for the latter half of the year.
While Neeraj Chopra will aim to defend his Asian Games title and potentially make a return to the Commonwealth Games after missing the 2022 edition, Sachin Yadav is expected to make his debut at both these prestigious events, provided he maintains his current form.
Understanding the Registered Testing Pool
The RTP represents the highest tier of athletes subject to no-advance-notice, out-of-competition doping controls. Athletes in this pool, which is currently dominated by competitors from nations like Ethiopia, Kenya, and the USA, must adhere to strict whereabouts requirements. They are obligated to provide detailed location information, including a home address, and must specify a consistent 60-minute window each day where they are available for testing.
Yadav's entry into this pool signifies his arrival among the world's elite track and field athletes. His inclusion comes at the expense of other prominent Indian athletes like javelin thrower Kishore Jena, steeplechaser Avinash Sable, woman javelin thrower Annu Rani, and long jumpers Murali Sreeshankar and Jeswin Aldrin, who were part of the previous RTP but did not find a place in the list for the first quarter of 2026.
The inclusion of a second Indian javelin thrower in the RTP underscores the country's growing strength in the discipline and sets the stage for an exciting 2026 season where both Yadav and Chopra will be under the global spotlight.
