NADA to decide Narsingh's fate on Thursday

Narsingh Yadav's chances of making it to the Olympics will be known on Thursday.

The National Anti-Doping Agency's disciplinary panel adjourned its hearing on the dope scandal surrounding the wrestler on Wednesday evening, even as he failed a second dope test and lodged a police complaint against two fellow-grapplers.

In the hearing, which lasted three-and-a-half hours, Narsingh and his battery of lawyers presented their case before the NADA committee, which will pronounce its verdict on Thursday.

"We have put Narsingh's argument. We have full faith in the NADA panel. We are trying to convince them. We are hopeful he will be exonerated. NADA panel is helpful. We have presented our argument today and panel was very patient and we had a very fair hearing. NADA will present their case tomorrow," Narsingh's lawyer Vidushpat Singhania said.

"The NADA panel has completed the hearing; the decision will be taken tomorrow. Nothing has been decided. It has been adjourned till tomorrow. We are very confident. There will be another discussion at 4pm tomorrow," added his promoters JSW Sports' MD Mustafa Ghouse.

Amid scenes of complete pandemonium at the NADA headquarters, Narsingh was accompanied not just by lawyers but also his supporters, who shouted slogans demanding justice for him.

The wrestler has alleged that he has been framed in the doping scandal by rivals, who spiked his food and supplements to stop him from going to the Rio Games.

However, his supplements have reportedly been found to be clean.

Narsingh filed an FIR at the Sonepat Police Station naming two fellow-wrestlers, one of them a 17-year-old, and persisted with his demand for a CBI probe into the scandal that has sent shockwaves into the Indian sports fraternity.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) also continues to back Narsingh but announced that Parveen Rana would replace him in the squad for Rio de Janeiro, a move that was approved by the sport's world governing body -- United World Wrestling.

"I have always maintained that there has been a conspiracy against me. If I am cleared of the charges, I will go to Rio. I have identified the boy who was seen contaminating my food. I have given a detailed complaint to the police," Narsingh told reporters after filing his complaint.

"I feel even officials are involved because I am not being provided the CCTV footage," he added.

Narsingh himself desisted from taking names but WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh revealed the alleged saboteurs while talking to the media.

"We suspect Jitesh, who fights in the 75kg category, and Sumit, both of them live in Chhatarsaal. And one of them has admitted to spiking Narsingh's food. I can't say on the conspiracy and can't say whether they did this on their own or on someone's asking. We cannot investigate this but we support Narsingh's demand for a CBI inquiry," Sharan said.

Sports Minister Vijay Goel, on the other hand, stuck to his stand that the government will abide by international rules when it comes to deciding on Narsingh's trip to Rio in the aftermath of the controversy.

Narsingh's hopes of competing in the Olympics had faded further after the wrestler failed a second dope test which was conducted on him on July 5.

Meanwhile, responding to a number of questions over the issue, Sports Minister Vijay Goel said the government will consider a suggestion made by members for keeping a check on anabolic steriods which are available openly in the market.

He said the National Anti-Doping Agency works under the World Anti-Doping Agency and its anti-doping panel is at present investigating the case of Narsingh.

The final report would be coming in the next two days, the minister said, adding till then Yadav will remain under provisional suspension.

But opposition members, including those from the Congress, were unhappy with his replies on the issue and pressed the need for curbing the availability of steroids.

Ranjeet Ranjan (Cong) raised the issue in the Zero Hour and sought a CBI inquiry into the matter while referring to the allegations that the brother of another international wrestler had a role in spiking Narsingh's food and drink intake.

"Whether he (Narsingh) has been fixed or not we do not know. There should be a CBI inquiry and the guilty must be given most stringent punishment. It is a heinous crime," she said.

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