Dope scandal: Narsingh Yadav's Rio Olympics fate hangs in balance as NADA set to pronounce verdict today

Delhi: Whether there is any chance for grappler Narsingh Yadav to participate in the upcoming Rio Olympics will be known on Thursday.

The National Anti-DopingAgency's disciplinary panel had adjourned its hearing on the dope scandal surrounding the wrestler yesterday even as he failed a second dope test and lodged a police complaint against two fellow grapplers.

In a hearing which lasted three and half hours, Narsingh and his battery of lawyers presented their case in front of the NADA committee, which will pronounce its verdict today.

Narsingh's chances of participating in the Olympics came under a cloud last Sunday when he returned a positive result for a dope test conducted by the NADA on June 25. 

Following this, Narsingh, who was selected to represent the country in the men's 74kg freestyle category ahead of two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, was handed a provisional suspension. 

The 26-year-old ran into further trouble on Wednesday after it was announced that a second test conducted on July 5 has also returned a positive result.

I have been framed, says Narsingh

The wrestler has alleged that he has been framed in the doping scandal by rivals, who spiked his food and supplements to stop him from going to Rio. However, his supplements have reportedly been found to be clean.

Narsingh filed an FIR at the Sonepat Police Station naming two fellow wrestlers, one of them a 17-year-old, and persisted with his demand for a CBI probe into the scandal.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has backed Narsingh but announced that Parveen Rana would replace him in the squad for Rio de Janeiro, a move that was approved by the sport's world governing body - United World Wrestling.

Narsingh himself desisted from taking names but WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh revealed the alleged saboteurs while talking to the media.

"We suspect Jitesh, who fights in the 75kg category, and Sumit, both of them live in Chhatarsaal. And one of them has admitted to spiking Narsingh's food. I can't say on the conspiracy and can't say whether they did this on their own or on someone's asking. We cannot investigate this but we support Narsingh's demand for a CBI inquiry," Brij Bhushan Sharan said, as per PTI.

On his part, Yadav had said on Tuesday after filing his police complaint, "I have always maintained that there has been a conspiracy against me. If I am cleared of the charges, I will go to Rio. I have identified the boy who was seen contaminating my food. I have given a detailed complaint to the police."

"I feel even officials are involved because I am not being provided the CCTV footage," he had added, as per IANS.

Narsingh, who earned the Rio quota after winning a World Championships bronze, was earlier picked ahead of double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar.

(With Agency inputs)