Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on Friday imposed a four-year ban on Narsingh Yadav reversing the clean chit given by NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency). Narsingh was to fight for men’s 74kg category today.
The wrestler was to take on France’s Zelimkhan Khadjiev in quarters.
The upset Yadav said “To say I am devastated at the decision of CAS would be putting it mildly. I have gone through so much over the last two months off the mat but the thought of fighting for the glory of the nation at the Games had kept me going. My dream of competing and winning the country a medal at the Rio Olympics has been cruelly snatched away from me twelve hours before my first bout,”
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Narsing’s Urine sample was tested positive for steroid methandienone on June 25th and July 5th. He said that he was a victim of conspiracy and his food/ supplement sample or Urine sample has tampered. Later on enquiry he was cleared for RIO by NADA.
However, WADA (World National Anti-Doping Agency) has challenged the decision of NADA India since the wrestler was tested positive twice in the month of June and July.
“The parties were informed that the application was upheld, that Narsingh Yadav was sanctioned with a four-year ineligibility period starting today and that any period of provisional suspension or ineligibility effectively served by the athlete before the entry into force of this award shall be credited against the total period of ineligibility to be served,” CSA informed in a statement.
The panel did not agree with the Yadavs argument that he was victim of sabotage, and he had no intention to violate the anti-doping rules.
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“Furthermore, all competitive results obtained by Narsingh Yadav from and including 25 June 2023 shall be disqualified, with all resulting consequences (including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes). The CAS Panel did not accept the argument of the athlete that he was the victim of sabotage and noted that there was no evidence that he bore no fault, nor that the anti-doping rule violation was not intentional. Therefore the standard 4-year period of ineligibility was imposed by the Panel,” CSA added.
Narsing’s mother appeals the government of India particularly PM Narendra Modi for justice. Unknown of the next step to take, the family was rolling tears for Yadav. The 27-year-old wrestler is asked to return to the home country by tomorrow.
“But I will do everything it takes to prove my innocence. It is all I have left to fight for,” he said in a statement issued by his sponsors JSW Sports.
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Sports fraternity say that Yadav was a victim of Conspiracy that costed four years with ban. Indian contingent’s chef-de-mission Rakesh Gupta said that it was so unfortunate get a ban imposed in spite of getting clearance from NADA.
“Narsingh will be a shattered man today. His career has been ruined. It is so unfortunate,” he said.