Wrestler Narsingh Pancham Yadav, who maintains he failed a doping test as his food was sabotaged, is demanding a CBI inquiry into the episode. Alleging a conspiracy, Yadav said, “I have been framed so that I am stopped from going to Rio.”
“There should be a CBI inquiry. The whole episode relating to my selection had gone to court. There was a CID report that my life is under threat. All this makes it clear, I have been framed so that I am stopped from going to Rio. I have given my complaint to the federation in which I have made it clear that something could have been mixed in the food that was prepared at the mess. It is a conspiracy against me,” Narsingh Yadav reportedly said.
Narsingh tested positive for Methandienone, an anabolic steroid which is primarily taken for gaining weight, on July 5. The drug increases strength and stamina.
Incidentally, Narsingh’s roommate at the Sports Authority of India, Sonipat, Haryana, Sandeep Tulsi Yadav, also a wrestler, has also tested positive for this banned substance. Although he isn’t a part of the contingent going to Rio, he is the only other to fail the test in the Sonipat residence.
Vinod Kumar, the assistance secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) said, “The fact that Narsingh’s teammate at the camp has also tested positive for the same substance, it clearly looks to be a foul play. Both the wrestlers were consuming the same supplements as they were roommates. It arises suspicion.”
On meeting the head of the WFI, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought details into the incident. Sharan Singh says Narsingh’s record is clean and is someone who has never shied away from dope tests.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh says, “The federation believes Narsingh is innocent. Injustice has happened with him and we are hopeful he will get justice. I will try my level best to help Narsingh get out of this problem so that he can represent India in 74kg in the Olympics and win a medal.”
With just 11 days to go for the Games, shot putter Inderjeet Singh is the third athlete to be tested positive for a banned steroid. The 28-year-old has been given an option to test his ‘B’ sample—he failed the test with his ‘A’ sample—in the next seven days. If that tests positive too, he may have to give the Rio Olympics a miss.
