Failure to present dope test history documents forces Rajiv Tomar to sit out

Rajiv Tomar

A mistake from the Wrestling Federation of India has cost wrestler Rajiv Tomar (125 kg) his place at the 2014 Asian Wrestling Championships.

Despite travelling all the way to Astana, Kazakhstan, after completing his doping ban, Tomar had to sit out and watch his compatriots wrestle because of a blunder made by the WFI who failed to show any documents related to Tomar’s dope history.

“I am disappointed,” Tomar told the Times of India. “NADA never informed that I needed a (reinstatement) dope test. After I showed them my documents, FILA finally allowed me to participate but by then the weigh-in process was over.”

Tomar was later allowed to take part in the games, however, he refused to due to his lack of motivation.

“The country lost out on a medal. If I had to refuse, why did I travel all the way to Astana? How come FILA allowed me to participate after we presented the documents?”

The Sports Authority of India has now demanded a report from the WFI on this incident.

“We have sought an explanation and if it’s not satisfactory we will take action,” SAI director general Jiji Thomson told reporters. “We are not in a hurry. The team can return and explain. It is the federation’s duty to ensure all athletes are dope free before submitting a proposal to SAI. We provide the funds.”

An Arjuna Award winner, Tomar was out of the national team since 2010 after he failed a dope test, and was given a two-year ban for testing positive for methylhexaneamine.