A long-drawn two-day hearing session conducted by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) panel on wrestler Narsingh Yadav’s doping issue has just been concluded at their New Delhi office. However, the much-awaited decision is still not out and we have to wait until Saturday or Monday for the final verdict on the matter.
In case the jury isn’t able to decide by Saturday, we might have to wait further until Monday for the last word on Narsingh’s eligibility for Rio Olympics 2016.
As things stand, Parveen Rana is still India’s pick headed for the Games in the 74 kg category of Men’s Freestyle Wrestling in 8 days time. Unless the provisional suspension of Narsingh is overturned quickly, there is no possibility for the 2014 Commonwealth Gold medallist to participate in the upcoming Olympics. But his innocence, if proven, could save him from a prospective 4-year ban from the sport as is the prevalent norm under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
Also Read: Narsingh's door to Rio open but he needs clean chit: WFI chief
With the IOA chief’s assurance that if given a clean chit by the NADA panel, Narsingh can still make it to the Olympics, the wrestler is fast running out of time, standing at such a crucial juncture of his career.
More on the matter to follow: