Narsingh cleared of dope charge

The National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) Disciplinary Panel on Monday exonerated wrestler Narsingh Pancham Yadav who had tested positive for a banned anabolic substance, methandienone.

The judgement may prove to be an interim relief for the wrestler whose claims of sabotage attempts to prevent him from participating in Rio Olympics was upheld by the three-member NADA panel.

The World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Olympic Committee and the United World Wresting all hold the rights to appeal against the NADA decision within the next 21 days.  

NADA director-general Navin Agarwal put to rest the suspense that had shrouded Narsingh’s fate for the last eight days.

The wrestler had tested positive in the sample collected by NADA at the Sports Authority of India, Sonepat, centre on June 25. His counsel, Vidushpat Singhania, had argued that Narsingh’s amino supplement drink was spiked either on June 23 or 24.

 Agarwal said the panel, headed by Sanjay Mani Tripathi, felt the wrestler’s “one-time ingestion” of banned substance was not intentional and thus found him a suitable candidate to benefit from NADA rule 10.4, which exonerates an athlete on the grounds of “no fault or negligence.”

“We kept in mind that in the past, till June 2, none of his samples were positive. It was inconceivable that one-time ingestion would be of benefit. Therefore, the panel is of the view that the one-time ingestion was not intentional,” said Agarwal. “The panel concludes that the athlete deserves the benefit of article 10.4 of NADA’s anti-doping code. Keeping in view that he was a victim of sabotage, the panel exonerates the athlete from charges of anti-doping rules of NADA,” Agarwal added.

Narsingh’s supporters, who had gathered around NADA office, celebrated by distributing sweets. The wrestler, who was picked ahead of double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar to represent India in the 74-kg category, said he was relieved.

“I always said I have done no wrong, that is why I continued with my training. Today the truth has prevailed. I am confident that I will go to Olympics and win medal for the country,” said Narsingh.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said they were already in the middle of ensuring Narsingh’s return to the Olympic squad.
DH News Service