Rio-bound wrestler alleges foul play after failing dope test

Less than 50 days after the Delhi High Court dismissed double Olympic medal-winning wrestler Sushil Kumar’s plea seeking a selection trial with Narsingh Yadav, the latter’s participation in the Rio Games is doubtful.

On Sunday, reports emerged that Yadav, who was all set to represent India in the 74kg freestyle category at next month’s Olympics, failed a dope test. Within hours, Yadav issued a statement alleging sabotage. “I believe that there is foul play involved in this entire episode,” said Yadav. “Someone has sabotaged my food supplements and water intake.” The Rio-bound wrestler had been subjected to random out-of-competition tests by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on June 2, June 25 and July 5. The second sample, collected at the Sonepat Centre of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), tested positive for a banned substance called methandienone.

Interestingly, Yadav is not the only one to allege foul play. After it was confirmed that his roommate Sandeep Yadav, who has not qualified for the Rio Olympics, also tested positive for the same banned substance, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) said that “foul play” seemed likely. While Brij Bhushan Sharan, president of the sport’s governing body in India, said, “I am sure it’s a conspiracy”, WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar said, “There was a high quantity of steroid in the sample, which is hard to believe.”