9) Indian wrestler Narsingh Yadav banned hours before his bout
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India’s dreams of a possible Olympic medal in wrestling were jolted when Narsingh Yadav was tested positive when the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) conducted a test. The 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist was one of India’s hopefuls in the contingent and the news set in motion a set of events that proved to be both embarrassing and unprofessional from India’s point of view.
However, he was allowed to compete after it came to light that his supplements had been sabotaged. The Wrestling Federation of India even said that he had been cleared to participate in Rio after NADA had approved his participation.
But hours before his first bout, WADA appealed and the CAS handed Yadav a four-year ban.
“WADA filed an urgent application before the CAS ad-hoc Division to challenge the decision of NADA India to exonerate Narsingh Yadav following two positive anti-doping tests with methandienone on 25 June and 5 July 2016.
“The athlete asserted thathe was the victim of sabotage (food/drink tampering) by another person. WADA requested that a 4-year period of ineligibility be imposed on the athlete.” – CAS statement
The ban meant that not only was Yadav not allowed to compete but India lost out on a spot that could have gone to another wrestler had they diligently followed due process to ensure there was no chance a WADA appeal would hamper their preparations.
Parveen Rana was named as a replacement before NADA cleared Narsingh. If they had stuck to the original plan, India would have seen a wrestler at least compete in the 74kg freestyle category.
