Wrestler Narsingh Yadav fails dope test, may miss Rio Olympics

With the Rio Olympics set to begin in just 11 days, India faced a huge blow Sunday as wrestler Narsingh Yadav failed a dope test, putting his participation under a cloud.

Narsingh, a 74-kg category wrestler who earned his right to represent the country over two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar after a bitter court battle, returned positive samples, both A and B, for a banned steroid, methanedienone, and was provisionally suspended.

The wrestler claimed innocence, saying it was a “conspiracy” against him. He alleged foul play, adding “someone tried to drug him” at the recent national camp in Sonepat.

Narsingh told this newspaper: “Someone sabotaged my food supplements and water intake... I am innocent and have never doped. The test result is shocking. It’s a conspiracy against me.”

If found guilty, Narsingh will miss out on the Rio Games and could be suspended for four years. National Anti-Doping Agency secretary-general Naveen Aggarwal confirmed Narsingh appeared before a disciplinary panel on Saturday, but a final decision is awaited.