Doping Fiasco: Narsingh Yadav’s Rio dream over

Wrestler Narsingh Yadav after the NADA hearing on his dope scandal, in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo: Biplab Banerjee)

Narsingh Yadav’s Rio Olympics dreams looked to be fading after the National Anti-Doping Agency disciplinary panel expectedly reserved its final verdict till Saturday or early next week.

After a two-day hearing, the former justice Manikant Mishra-headed three-menber panel is unlikely to give a decision in favour of the dope-tainted wrestler after the Nada legal team pointed out that Narsingh’s “sabotage” allegations were not backed by sufficient evidence.

The wrestler’s ‘no significant negligence or fault’ defence (under Rule 5.2.1 World Anti-Doping Agency Code ) was also not convincing, said Nada representative Gaurang Kanth after the hearing.

“He (Narsingh) is not eligible for remission which he has been asking. They did not produce the relevant circumstantial evidence that there could have been sabotage as they had been claiming.

“They filed an affidavit that his drinks or water was spiked but they did not produce the evidence to satisfy Nada and Wada. As an international athlete he should have taken due care about his food and drink. But from what he had produced before the panel there was nothing to prove due care on his part,” Kanth added.

“So under the Wada Code if he fails to prove due care and diligence he should not be given remission and should be punished. The arguments are over let us see what the panel decides. The judgment is expected either on Saturday or Monday.”

Reduced sanction As of now, Narsingh’s Olympic chances seems bleak as even if the Nada panel gives a lenient decision, the least he will get is a reduced sanction — which is a two-year ban of the fours years for first time offenders — not an exoneration.

However, Narsingh was upbeat about going to Rio.

“I am confident of going to Rio and training every day. This has been a conspiracy against me, I have been trapped. I have never done doping in my long career,” he said.

“Whatever was truth I have kept it in front of the panel. I hope all will be good. Let us see what decision awaits me,” the 26-year-old added on the hearing.

On Wednesday, Narsingh in his 600-page affidavit had said that his water/drink was spiked probably on June 23 or June 24 in Sonepat after his return from a Bulgaria training stint.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that Narsingh Yadav’s parents appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the doping fiasco and ensure that their son competes in the event.

Narsingh tested positive for metandienone during a test conducted by Nada on June 25 and has been provisionally suspended.

Ruining his Rio chance, his July 5 dope test also returned positive for the same substance.