Ever since Narsingh Yadav's doping scandal broke, the Wrestling Federation of India has not changed their stance, stating that the wrestler became a victim of conspiracy. Now, there is another angle in the doping saga and WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh believes that the SAI and NADA officials are responsible for the four-year ban, which also disqualified Narsingh from representing the nation in Rio Olympics.
It was a huge disappointment for India and the wrestler, who was initially given a clean chit by NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency) ahead of the Olympics.
But the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) just a few days before Narsingh's event, and the Indian camp was not able to bring any evidence to prove the sabotage theory, which NADA claimed, and the body handed him an unfortunate ban.
During the hearing in Rio regarding Narsingh's case, Singh was surprised to know that the NADA had received a letter from a junior official in SAI Sonepat – where the wrestler trained -- informing them about the "drug abuse in the centre."
"We got to know some things there (at Rio de Janeiro) during the CAS hearing. When world body (WADA) had asked NADA why dope tests were conducted on Narsingh in such short span of time, NADA had revealed that on July 4, a written complaint was sent to them by a junior SAI Sonepat official (Ramesh) that some drug abuse was going on in the centre," Press Trust of India quoted Singh as saying.
"On the basis of that complain, the dope tests were conducted again. The people who had spiked his food/drinks were not sure whether it was done properly (on June 23 & 24) before the first test on June 25, so they did it again before sending the complain letter to NADA team on July 4 for conducting another test. Even NADA never told us about the letter. I am sure, junior level officials of NADA are also involved."
Irrespective of whether NADA and SAI officials played a huge role in the case or not, one thing is clear, Narsingh's career is under threat. The wrestler did not even get a chance to help India bring home a medal. Narsingh, 27, wants his ban to reviewed.
With the matter becoming serious each and every day, the WFI wants a CBI probe and the federation's chief is willing to talk about it to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well.
