Narsingh Yadav’s hopes of participating in the Rio Olympics ended on Tuesday with the world governing body for wrestling, United World Wrestling (UWW), announcing that Parveen Rana would replace Narsingh in 74kg freestyle category in the Rio Olympics.
Acting on a National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) report, the UWW took the decision of replacing Narsingh, who tested positive for a banned steroid in an out-of-competition test conducted at the National camp in Sonepat a few weeks ago.
“A report filed by the NADA last week states that 74kg freestyle wrestler Narsingh has failed an out-of-competition anti-doping test.
“Narsingh, who qualified his nation for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro at the 2015 World championship in Las Vegas, has been provisionally suspended by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and is restricted from competing at the Rio Games,” said UWW in a statement.
Narsingh, who had a feud with two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar over the particular quota place and managed to retain it following a court verdict, had alleged ‘foul play’ in his positive dope test.
Even his room-mate Sandeep Yadav, who is nursing an injury and is not scheduled to take part in any competition in the near future, had returned a positive for the same banned substance.
Even as the NADA disciplinary panel is expected to conduct its final hearing and take its decision on Narsingh’s doping case on Wednesday, the UWW decision has come as a big jolt to the World championship bronze medallist’s ambitions.
“UWW informed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) last week that since the positive test occurred outside of the qualification event, they would be allowed replace Yadav with another wrestler or else vacate the qualification spot. The IOA informed UWW of their desire to enter Parveen Rana as their nation’s replacement at 74kg in men’s freestyle,” said UWW.
