In a sensational turn of events on Monday, wrestler Narsingh Yadav got a clean chit from National Anti Doping Agency which will pave the way for his participation at the Rio Olympics, 2016. The NADA panel has exonerated Yadav from charges of violating anti-doping rules.
Narsingh had failed a second dope test on Wednesday after which was conducted on him on July 5. He was already under provisional suspension for failing a June 25 dope test.
But the final decision on Narsingh being eligible for Rio will still be up to the World Anti-Doping Agency and IOC, according to immediate reports.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) vice-president Tarlochan Singh said that there will be no procedural hurdle for the wrestler as he gears up to participate in the Olympics.
“He has not been penalised by WADA codre or World Federation. It was a decision taken by a local body which has been done properly again after proper investigations so that it goes in his favour,” said Tarlochan to Times Now.
The NADA reached the conclusion after three days of marathon hearings last week during which Narsingh’s lawyers argued that the wrestler had been sabotaged by rivals. Narsingh had even filed a police complaint, naming two fellow wrestlers, one of whom is a 17-year-old.
Narsingh had returned positive for metandienone — a banned anabolic steroid, following which he cried foul, claiming that the entire episode was a conspiracy against him.
NADA’s legal team had also given its arguments against the sabotage theory before the disciplinary committee, stating that the responsibility of keeping his system dope free lay with Narsingh.
The panel had summoned two cooks on the request of Narsingh’s lawyer Vidushpat Singhania on Saturday to verify the theory of his food being contaminated.