India’s Olympic-bound wrestler Narsingh Yadav, who was tested positive for a dope test conducted on June 25, was on Monday given a clean chit by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) which held that he had been a victim of sabotage and also overturned the provisional suspension imposed on him in connection with the alleged doping case.
Though NADA has given him a green signal, Narsingh is yet to cross a crucial hurdle before he boards the flight for Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games starting August 5.
Narsingh will have to clear a fresh dope test and get clearances from the two regulatory bodies – World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and International Olympics Committee (IOC). Moreover, the United World Wrestling, the international governing body, must also agree to reinstate him.
But that doesn’t seem so simple. NADA’s order of exoneration will remain under a 21-day scrutiny during which the WADA can raise an appeal in the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) against both Narsingh Yadav and NADA.
In a similar case that occurred in the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, three 4x400 women’s relay team athletes were found positive in a doping test. While the lower court exonerated them, the WADA appealed in the CAS after which the three were banned for two years.
The IOC clearly states that no dope tainted athlete with ever compete in the Olympic Games.
Even if Narsingh clears the final dope that will be conducted by WADA, it is the IOC who will decide whether he will go for the Rio Olympics or not.
After Narsingh failed both the doping tests conducted by NADA on June 25 and July 5, a provisional suspension was imposed on him and Praveen Rana was named as his replacement in the 74-kg category at the Rio Olympics.
Exonerating him of the doping charges, the NADA disciplinary panel stated that the one-time ingestion by Narsingh was not within his knowledge and strengthens his claim.
The panel further stated that Narsingh was a victim of sabotage done by a competitor.
Meanwhile, Narsingh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek his blessings after getting a clean chit in the doping charges.
Soon after the meeting, Narsingh said, “Prime Minister wished me luck and said there will be no injustice with you.”
A relived Narsingh Yadav also thanked the people and media for their support.
“I never had a doubt that I’ll be cleared but now my focus is firmly on doing my best and going all out to bring glory to the nation,” he said.
Narsingh had claimed of a conspiracy to frame him and had filed a police report in this regard, although he refrained from naming anyone.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhishan Sharan Singh had also alleged that two junior wrestlers from the Chhatarsaal Stadium had mixed banned substances in his food.
