Rio Hopes Dim, Wrestler Narsingh Yadav's Food Supplement Clean: Sources

Narsingh Yadav's Rio Olympics dreams are all but over. The wrestler's claim that his food supplement was spiked has been found to be untrue, according to sources. Narsingh has failed two dope tests, the last being on July 5.  A decision from National Anti-Doping Agency is expected on Thursday.

Earlier, a teen, who could have possibly 'spiked' wrestler Narsingh's food supplements during his time at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Sonepat centre, has been identified, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh told NDTV.

The 74-kg wrestler Narsingh tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid - methandienone - and will not go to the Rio Games, starting on August 5, and India will be represented by Parveen Rana in his place.

The teen has been identified as the brother of an international wrestler in the super-heavyweight category. He allegedly infiltrated Narsingh's room at SAI and contaminated his food supplements. The SAI centre's cook and staff has identified the culprit, according to WFI. The teen has also has confessed to his crime,  it added.

Speaking to NDTV at Sonepat on Wednesday, Narsingh said: "I am ready to face the NADA committee because I am confident that there is foul play. I want the guilty to be caught because I have never failed a dope test."

However, no FIR has been lodged against the teen yet, though it could be possibly done on Wednesday. Narsingh himself has filed a written complaint at Rai police station, near Panipat. He also has a final NADA hearing on Wednesday.

The person is himself a 65kg wrestler and has even represented India at junior level. Though he generally trains at the Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, he often visited the SAI Sonepat centre during national camps as a sparring partner, according to reports.

Murky affair

According to a report in Times of India, the teen in question was hanging around Narsingh's room when the 2015 World Championship bronze medallist was with the Indian team in Bulgaria.

He also asked for keys to Narsingh's room at the KD Jadhav hostel at the centre during the wrestler's absence and when someone asked about what he was doing, he told he was there by mistake.

Though the SAI centre is under CCTV coverage, no video footage of the teem entering Narsingh's room has been found as the place doesn't have facility to store more than 10 days video, the report adds'.

Narsingh was tested by National Anti-Doping Agency on June 2, before the Indian team left for a training stint in Bulgaria and Georgia, and he returned negative.

After his return to India, he again started training at Sonepat. Then on July 5 he was again tested and he failed it. According to Narsingh, it was during this time that the foul play was carried out.

'Foul Play'

In an earlier interview to NDTV, Narsingh said, "I believe that there is foul play involved in this entire episode. Someone has sabotaged my food supplements and water intake during my stay at the national camp in Sonepat."

"I take pride in the fact that I have competed in every competition, international and domestic, in an honest, fair and transparent manner and I will continue to do so. I am a responsible athlete with an understanding of the country's expectations and hopes on me. I would never dream of betraying that hope," he added in a statement.

Meanwhile, union sports minister Vijay Goel said,"If nothing is found in the food supplements then it would be considered a positive dope test. Narsingh was told not to train in Sonepat and all Olympic-bound athletes were given the option of customised training."

"This controversy should end. National Anti-Doping Agency is affiliated to World Anti-Doping Agency. We can't decide alone, we are trying to ensure that none of our athletes test positive for dope in Rio. NADA has been been educating athletes about doping, even after this if something has happened than law will take it's own course. The conspiracy angle will be investigated," Goel added.

(With inputs from Yash Chawla, Suprita Das)