Medal Hope Narsingh Yadav Will Face Dope Hearing A Day Before Rio Bout

Narsingh Yadav's National Anti-Doping Agency clean chit is being reviewed by the World Anti-Doping Agency in Rio. Narsingh is India's only entry in the 74-kg freestyle category in the Summer Games.

WADA has taken Narsingh to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). There will be a hearing on August 18, exactly a day before Narsingh begins his Rio campaign. It has put Narsingh's participation in jeopardy.

"WADA can confirm that it has appealed this case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) panel in Rio de Janeiro. As this is a pending case, we will make no further comment until a decision is delivered by CAS.," WADA told NDTV.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said, "We have a strong case, nothing wrong will happen. We have replied to World Anti-Doping Agency in due time. Narsingh is practicing and he has not been told about this. WFI received a letter from WADA on 15th and we have replied today. We are very hopeful that Narsingh will participate."

On August 2, NADA gave the dope-tainted wrestler a clean chit to travel to Rio. There was a hearing at the Games Village on Tuesday. It was attended by members of the Indian contingent and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

"WADA has appealed against the NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency) clearance in Court of Arbitration (CAS). Now the hearing is on and the IOA Secretary General (Rajeev Mehta) is there with WADA officials," Indian contingent's chef-de-mission Rakesh Gupta informed PTI.

Narsingh was supposed to begin his campaign on August 19 but now faces the prospect of a career-ending four-year ban if the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) upholds WADA's appeal.

Indian Olympic Association Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said Narsingh's legal counsel Vidushpat Singhania would fight the case through video conference at the IOC office here at 9am local time on August 18.

"We are left with two options; to take two-days' time and fight the case or a time of one month for reply which would have jeopardised his career. His fate will now be decided on August 18. We will fight till the end," Mehta told PTI.

"We will reply on basis of merit, let's hope for the best. This is the best option we are left with and now we are living in hope."

The wrestler began his preparation at the Games Village with training under his coach but to his utter dismay there was more trouble brewing as WADA was not convinced with the clearance.

WADA's appeal had come two days ago, Gupta said.

"They were not convinced by the NADA clearance so they challenged it in the CAS. The hearing will determine his fate," Gupta said.

Narsingh had returned positive for methandienone - a banned anabolic steroid, following which the wrestler cried foul, claiming that the entire episode was a conspiracy against him.

NADA Director General Navin Agarwal read out a statement clearing Narsingh, leading to wild celebrations among his supporters.

"We kept in mind that in the past, till June 2, none of his samples were positive. It was inconceivable that one-time ingestion would be of benefit. Therefore, the panel is of the view that the one-time ingestion was not intentional," Agarwal said.

"The panel concludes that the athlete deserves the benefit of article 10.4 of the NADA's anti-doping code. Keeping in view that he was victim of a sabotage, the panel exonerates the athlete from charges of anti-doping rules of NADA," he added.

(With inputs from Suprita Das, Nikhil Naz, Yash Chawla and PTI)