PTI
New Delhi, July 24: India’s Olympic build up was dealt a huge blow Sunday as wrestler Narsingh Yadav, who was selected ahead of the celebrated Sushil Kumar, failed a dope test but insisted that the scandal that has jeopardised his Olympic participation is a conspiracy against him.
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) Director General Navin Agarwal said that Narsingh had tested positive for a banned substance and he appeared before a NADA disciplinary panel Saturday. Sources said he had tested positive for methandienone — a banned anabolic steroid.
“Yes, he (Narsingh) tested positive for a banned steroid. His B sample was also found to be positive. Narsingh was personally present when his B sample was opened,” the NADA DG informed.
“He appeared before a disciplinary panel yesterday (Saturday). The panel sought for more reports regarding the matter. We will proceed further and I am hoping that the panel will proceed quickly. Till then we will have to wait,” he added.
Asked if Narsingh will miss the Rio Olympics, Agarwal said, “It is too early to comment in that regard. We will try to complete the whole thing quickly. I cannot speculate on that.”
Narsingh, who won the 74kg Olympic quota berth with a World Championships bronze medal last year, was selected for Rio in controversial circumstances after double Olympic-medallist Sushil Kumar’s demands for a trial were rejected both by the WFI and the Delhi High Court.
Sushil, who is yet to make a formal statement on the matter, put out a cryptic tweet after the controversy broke out.“Respect is to be earned not demanded,” Sushil, a former World Champion tweeted without specifying to whom or what exactly was he referring to.
Narsingh, a former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist, had to fight a lengthy legal battle with Sushil to get the chance to compete for India at the Olympics. Indian Olympic Association Secretary General Rajeev Mehta ruled out the possibility of Sushil benefitting from the episode, saying that the last date for sending Olympic entries, July 18, is well behind them now.
“As far as Sushil Kumar is concerned, I think there is practically no chance for him (to replace Narsingh). Everything is closed as far as entry of athletes is concerned,” he said.
Yadav cries conspiracy
His Olympic dream in jeopardy after a failed dope test, wrestler Narsingh Yadav Sunday claimed innocence, saying that the scandal is a conspiracy against him. “This is a conspiracy against me. I have never taken any banned substance,” said Narsingh.
Narsingh, who was picked ahead of the double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar to represent India at the Rio Games in 74kg Freestyle category, has been handed provisional suspension and virtually 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 sabotage. “It is a sabotage, foul play. Narsingh has a very clean history. It’s clearly a conspiracy against him,” WFI sources informed.
Narsingh’s chances of going to Rio look bleak but even Sushil Kumar is set to miss the flight. “Decision on the representation in 74kg is to be taken later but in all likelihood there would be no Indian representation in 74kg category in Rio Games because the date of entry of the athletes is over,” the source added.
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. Sources said that he had returned positive for methandienone — a banned anabolic steroid.