Rio-bound wrestler alleges foul play after failing dope test

WrittenBy:NL Team
Date:

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.

subscription-appeal-image

Support Independent Media

The media must be free and fair, uninfluenced by corporate or state interests. That's why you, the public, need to pay to keep news free.

Contribute

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.”

subscription-appeal-image

Power NL-TNM Election Fund

General elections are around the corner, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have ambitious plans together to focus on the issues that really matter to the voter. From political funding to battleground states, media coverage to 10 years of Modi, choose a project you would like to support and power our journalism.

Ground reportage is central to public interest journalism. Only readers like you can make it possible. Will you?

Support now

You may also like