Mumbai: While India celebrates National Anti Doping Agency’s clean chit to Narsingh Yadav on Monday ahead of Rio Olympics, the wrestler and his fans need to hold on to their celebrations as World Anti Doping Agency can still challenge NADA’s verdict in Court of Arbitration for Sport and stop the Indian wrestler from participating in the Rio Olympics.
WADA has 21 days to challenge the NADA decision.
After the Indian grappler was tested positive in dope test, the Indian Olympic Association named Praveen Rana as Narsingh’s replacement in the 74-kg freestyle category at the Rio Games. The International Olympic Committee now must accept India’s request to reinstate Narsingh.
India had suffered a huge embarrassment last month as Narsingh failed a dope test conducted by NADA, a development which has cast doubt on his participation in Rio Games.
Narsingh was selected for the Rio Olympics in controversial circumstances as double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar had also staked his claim to represent the country in 74kg freestyle.
But Narsingh was favoured as he had earned the Olympic quota in the World Championships last year. Narsingh had to fight a lengthy legal battle with two-time Olympics medallist Sushil, also in the same category, to get the chance to compete for India at the Olympics.
Following the failed dope test, Narsingh said, “This is a conspiracy against me. I have never taken any banned substance.”
Narsingh then filed an FIR at the Sonepat Police Station naming two fellow wrestlers as the saboteurs, one of them a 17-year-old, and persisted with his demand for a CBI probe into the scandal that has sent shockwaves into the Indian sporting fraternity.
"I have always maintained that there has been a conspiracy against me. If I am cleared of the charges, I will go to Rio. I have identified the boy who was seen contaminating my food. I have given a detailed complaint to the police," Narsingh had told reporters after filing his complaint.
"I feel even officials are involved because I am not being provided the CCTV footage," he added.
At Rio Games, the bouts of 74-kg freestyle category will be held from August 19.
