Dope Shope : Narsingh Yadav Story

So, that what has been absorbing the headlines. The Rio Olympics have reached our doorsteps. Some of our players have already reached the Games village. But, what is shocking is the dope results that has been coming out in Russia and in India.

In India, the victim is Narsingh Yadav. Narsingh Yadav, if you rewind back, was selected to represent India in 74 kg middle weight wrestling beating Sushil Kumar. The reason for their fight were as follows :-

1. United World Wrestling decided to scrap a few weight categories including the 66 kg weight category to which Sushil Kumar belonged.
2. In July 2014, Sushil Kumar clenched the Gold Medal at Glasgow Commonwealth Games but he failed to grab anything in the Asian Games at Incheon. Narsingh Yadav, meanwhile, won a Bronze in the 74 kg category. An injury that Sushil Kumar got at that period forced him to miss every tournament since then.
3. But, Narsingh proved his consistency. He grabbed Bronze in the World Championship. These victories led Narsingh Yadav to get a place in the Rio squad.

The skirmishes between them had led to Sushil Kumar filing a case against the decision but the court denied to accept Sushil’s plea and Narsingh Yadav was representing India. After the decision of the court, Narsingh Yadav had again won bronze in Spanish Grand Prix event.

Narsingh Yadav was given protection suspecting attacks against him from his rivalries due to these controversies. Following a tipoff, the CBI, conducted an out of competition test and on July 24, 2016, the player was tested positive for an Androgenic Anabolic Steriod. This steroid is taken by the players in an off – period for muscle gains and strength. No player would consume the steroid just before the games as it wouldn’t be masked in the body and it wouldn’t boost the performance immediately. Curiously, when an out-of competition test is conducted, results should be declared in 7 to 8 days. In the case of Narsingh, it took longer for the results to come. Moreover, in July 25, 2016, his roommate was also tested positive. This created a suspicion that whether this drug was administered without his knowledge through food or water.

In July 27, 2016, WFI named Praveen Rana as a replacement for Narsingh Yadav.

In August 1, 2016, NADA cleared the allegations against Narsingh as it was evident that the wrestler was a victim of sabotage. Thus, Narsingh Yadav was allowed to go to Rio. The story doesn’t end there. WADA has filed an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) against the clean chit given to the Indian wrestler. The Indian Olympic Association has engaged a lawyer to represent Narsingh at the hearing before the CAS, being held at the ad hoc office of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday(18/08/2016) at 1pm local time (9.30pm IST).

For now, let’s put the fingers crossed.