The Indian Olympic contingent suffered a huge setback on Sunday with 74 kg category wrestler Narsingh Pancham Yadav failing an out-of-competition drug test on 5 July.
While his very participation in the Games is under a huge cloud, Narsingh himself is claiming that it is a conspiracy to sabotage his campaign.
Did somebody spike Narsingh’s food with drugs or did Narsingh actually take performance enhancing drugs?
The Quint lists down the eight things you need to know about the Narsingh dope controversy.
1. Methandienone – A Weight Gaining Drug
Methandienone is an anabolic steroid which is primarily taken for gaining weight. The drug helps one bulk up very effectively and it increases strength and stamina.
But Narsingh failed the drug test (5 July) at a time when all the wrestlers are working towards losing weight to fall into their respective categories for the Olympics.
Why would Narsingh take a drug which would increase his weight?
2. Narsingh Was Going to Participate in an Invitational Tournament
The 2015 World Championship bronze medallist attended the dope test before going to Spain to participate in an invitational tournament. Narsingh was considering the tournament as a warm-up event for the Rio Olympics.
Why would the 26-year-old want to rely on drugs for a warm-up tournament?
3. Yadav’s Roommate Sandeep Also Tests Positive
Interestingly, Narsingh’s roommate at the Sports Authority of India’s Sonipat centre, Sandeep Yadav, has also tested positive for the same drug that was found in Narsingh’s sample.
Sandeep isn’t in the Rio Olympics team and wasn’t even training for any event, then why would he take performance enhancing drugs? Also, apart from the two wrestlers, no other resident of the centre has tested positive for the substance.
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 suspicionVinod Tomar, WFI assistant secretary
4. The Wrestler’s Clean Record
As reported by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Narsingh has never failed nor shied away from a drug test in his ten-year-long career.
Narsingh’s record is clean. He is someone who never shied away from dope tests.Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, president, WFI
Why would Narsingh stay away from doping for ten years and take drugs before the biggest tournament of his career?
5. Federation Backs Narsingh
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has thrown its weight behind Narsingh Yadav. Doubting foul play, WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said the federation believes Narsingh is innocent and will support him to the end.
The WFI chief also added that Narsingh has a clean record and he would be foolish to jeopardise his career by taking a banned substance just days before the Olympics.
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.Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, WFI President
6. Narsingh Advised Against Training in Sonipat
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) had earlier told Narsingh Yadav to not train in Sonipat. Yadav was also provided police security during the legal battle between Sushil Kumar and him.
Haryana police had claimed threat to life of Yadav at the training camp in Sonipat.
7. Sushil Will Not Replace Narsingh
Even if Narsingh Yadav is found guilty of having used the banned substance and banned from the Olympics, Sushil Kumar or anyone else cannot replace him as India’s representative in the 74 Kg category.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Ramachandran Srinivasan clarified that if Narsingh fails to make it to Rio, India’s quota will go empty.
The last date to send the final list for the Rio Olympics was 18 July.
8. What Happens Next?
Narsingh’s chances of participating the Rio Olympics are hanging by a thread. The panel of the sports ministry has asked NADA for some further reports. After the reports are received, the panel will hold a further hearing in the matter.
But time is running out for the wrestler. There are only ten days to go for the Rio Olympics.
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