Narsingh Yadav exonerated by NADA but not yet eligible to join Indian contingent at Rio

New Delhi: Narsingh Yadav, who was tested positive for an anabolic steroid last month, was given a clean chit by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) hearing panel, who accepted his argument that he was victim of a conspiracy.

Despite the clearance, the wrestler still has some way to go before he can join fellow Indian athletes for the Olympic Games starting August 5.

Narsingh is due another dope test (which he has to clear at any cost) and also get approval from from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to participate at the Rio Olympics.

Not just that, the United World Wrestling — the international governing body — must also agree to reinstate him and replace Praveen Rana, who was chosen as a replacement in the 74-kg category at the Olympics.

Narsingh had appealed against the doping ban under article 10.4 of the WADA code that provides for “elimination of ineligibility where an athlete can prove that despite all due care he or she was sabotaged by a competitor”.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan has ensured the grappler's fans that a letter to the UWW will be written today itself to replace Praveen Rana's name with Narsingh Yadav and the everything possible will be done to ensure that the latter doesn't miss the Rio bus.