With just days left for Narsingh Yadav to make a mark in Olympics 2016, a fresh question mark has arose whether he indeed will be participating in the event. On Tuesday, the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) questioned the clean chit given by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to allow the Indian wrestler to participate in Rio 2016.
Narsingh has been asked to attend a hearing with the WADA on Aug. 18 at 9 a.m. BST (1:30 p.m. IST).
WADA is of the view that the decision taken by NADA was owing to some kind of an internal pressure, according to sources, and if found guilty, strict action awaits both the Indian wrestler as well as the Indian wrestling governing body WFI (Wrestling Federation of India).
Narsingh, who was selected over Sushil Kumar, is set to take the mat in the 74 kg freestyle wrestling competition on Aug. 19. However, the big verdict could come 24 hours before his participation and the wrestler could even be set for a potential career-ending four-year ban if the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) upholds WADA's appeal.
Interestingly, the United World Wrestling (UNW) -- the international governing body for amateur wrestling -- also had given a clearance to Narsingh to participate in the Olympics. However, everyone waited for the much-needed WADA clearance, which has now come just at the eleventh hour.
Narsingh, 26, had tested positive for methandienone, a banned substance used mostly by bodybuilders, on July 23. He had claimed that his drink was spiked with the drug when he was practicing.
