Big blow for India’s Olympic hopes as wrestler Narsingh Yadav reportedly fails dope test

ByArun S Kaimal, SportsCafe Editor

07/24/2016

Rio Olympics-bound Indian wrestler Narsingh Yadav has reportedly failed a dope test, according to media reports. The 26-year-old, who won the bronze in 2015 World Wrestling Championships in 74 kg, is facing an uncertain future after Wrestling Federation of India withheld his accreditation for Rio.

According to a report in The Telegraph, Narsingh will not be able to make it to Rio after he was stopped from accompanying the Indian wrestling team to the preparatory camp in Georgia. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) reportedly conducted a random dope test on the grappler on July 5 at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Sonepat. The result of the ‘A’ sample came out as positive and he was called in for his ‘B’ sample Test. Reportedly, the ‘B’ sample also returned positive and NADA sent its final report to the Wrestling Federation of India.

Thus, the WFI stopped the wrestler from boarding the flight to Georgia, where the Rio-bound Indian wrestlers will participate in a fortnight-long training-cum-competition programme.

"The five-member men's wrestling team are set to leave for Georgia on Monday. They will train there and will fly to Rio directly. However, Narsingh will not accompany the team. The reason for that is not known," said a sports ministry official, reported the Telegraph.

Reportedly, the grappler’s Rio Olympics accreditation has also been withheld. However, Narsingh Yadav has pleaded innocence on the matter

Narsingh Yadav had to fight a lengthy court battle with double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar to win the chance to represent India at Rio. He had won the quota for the country by winning the bronze at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships in September.

Also, read : 2016 Olympics | After six medals in London, how many will India achieve in Rio?