advertisement
After failing a dope test, wrestler Narsingh Yadav claimed innocence, saying that the scandal is a conspiracy against him.
Narsingh, who was picked ahead of the double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar to represent India at the Rio Games in the 74kg Freestyle category, has been handed provisional suspension and has virtually been ruled out of next month’s Olympics.
The 26-year-old wrestler’s Olympics accreditation has also been withheld.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has also cried foul, claiming that Narsingh has a clean history and it seems to be a case of sabotage.
Narsingh’s chances of going to Rio looks bleak but even Sushil Kumar is set to miss the flight.
Narsingh, who won the 74kg Olympic quota berth with a World Championships bronze last year, was selected by the WFI to represent India at the Rio Games in controversial circumstances after Sushil’s demands for a trial were rejected by the Federation as well as the Delhi High Court after a lengthy legal battle.
National Anti-Doping Director General Navin Agarwal confirmed that Narsingh’s ‘B’ sample also tested positive for a banned substance and he appeared before a NADA disciplinary panel on Saturday. Sources said that he had returned positive for methandienone – a banned anabolic steroid.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)