January 22, 2025

There is something decidedly murky in the dope test results of Narsingh Yadav and his sparring partner Sandip Tulsi Yadav. Given the fact that there was a long tussle, including a court case, between him and Sushil Kumar over who was going to represent India in the 74 Kg category at Rio Olympics and the fact that the Haryana police had warned Narsingh that there could be threat to his life, it could be a conspiracy to prevent him from going to the Olympics. Although no one is dragging Sushil Kumar into it yet, but there could be other vested interests who did not want Yadav to go.

While it cannot be denied that NADA has found the banned substance methandienone, a banned steroid that helps in enhancing performance, it is beyond comprehension how an experienced wrestler and a medal prospect could use the substance just days before the Olympics. It would be sheer lunacy on his part to do so. Hence, it seems that everything is not as crystal clear as it is made out to be.

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The only lifeline Yadav still has if he is to go to Rio is to prove at the hearing before the WADA that he is a victim of sabotage by rivals and to do this, he has to produce a witness. It seems an uphill task, but with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) solidly behind him, there could be a miracle. In this, Yadav would need all help from the police and the administration to uncover what went wrong at the training centre at SAI, Sonepat, if he is telling the truth about not having taken the substance.

With random dope tests more the rule than exception, especially before big events, sports persons are very cautious nowadays. A recently banned substance taken by mistake is different and can happen to any athlete, but methandienone was banned a long time back. Further, it can be detected up to three days and even up to 19 days in some cases. Hence, no athlete would be stupid enough to risk his career by taking it.

Even if Narsingh Yadav does not make it to Rio, authorities should get at the bottom of this scandal. Security apparatus at the SAI, Sonepat should be put under the scanner. How could there be such a lapse, if it indeed was a lapse, when such high profile wrestlers were training there? Narsingh Yadav is going to bear the penalty of his deed if he is guilty. But if he is not, then whoever did this to him should be traced, caught and handed out an exemplary punishment to prevent sporting rivalries from descending to such levels in future.

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