Narsingh Yadav cries foul after dope test shock, says truth will come out

New Delhi: Defending his innocence, Narsingh Yadav on Sunday claimed that he was implicated under a conspiracy. The 74kg freestyle wrestler tested positive for a banned steroid.

"This is a conspiracy against me. I am sure the truth will come out," Yadav told NDTV.

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) conducted a random dope test on Yadav on 5 July at the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) regional centre in Sonepat.

"I have never taken any banned substance. I know Indian Olympic Association will support me," he added.

Narsingh had won a lengthy legal battle over two-time Olympics medallist Sushil Kumar, who also staked his claim to represent the country in 74kg freestyle at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Interestingly, Sushil posted this a photo on Instagram

A photo posted by Sushil Kumar (@wrestlersushil) on Jul 24, 2016 at 1:34am PDT

Sushil's coach and father-in-law said that the failed dope test is a huge injustice on the nation.

"If the news (that Narsingh Yadav has failed a dope test) is true, then its a huge treachery towards the nation," Satpal told Indian Express.

NADA Director General Navin Agarwal confirmed that Narsingh's 'B' sample returned positive for a banned anabolic steroid – methandienone.

The report of his 'A' sample test came out positive.

Agarwal also confirmed that the 26-year-old appeared before a NADA disciplinary panel on Saturday.

About Yadav's participation at the Rio Games, Agarwal said, "It is too early to comment in that regard. We will try to complete the whole thing quickly. I cannot speculate on that."

Subsequent to these new development, the Wrestling Federation Of India (WFI) has stopped Yadav from traveling with the other Rio-bound men's freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers to Georgia on July 25 for a fortnight-long training-cum-competition programme.

The federation also recalled Yadav's Rio Olympics accreditation card as the NADA hearing is on.

Meanwhile, a WFI source close to Yadav claimed that the wrestler is clean, and said that the entire episode seems to be a conspiracy.

"It is a sabotage, foul play. Narsingh has a very clean history. it is clearly a conspiracy against him. Decision on the representation in 74kg is to be taken later but in all likelihood there would be no Indian representation in 74kg in Rio. Narsingh has been handed provisional suspension as of now," the source said.

Narsingh, who won the 74kg Olympic quota berth with a World Championships bronze last year, was selected by the WFI to represent India at the Rio Games in controversial circumstances after Sushil's demands for a trial were rejected by the Federation as well as the Delhi High Court after a lengthy legal battle.