Wrestler Narsingh Yadav's Rio hopes dashed, banned for four years

Indian wrestler Narsingh Yadav has been banned for four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) following an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Yadav's hopes of competing in the Olympics have been dashed, on the day he was scheduled to take on France's Zelimkhan Khadjiev in the qualification round.

The WADA appeal came in the aftermath of the clean chit given to him in a dope scandal by NADA.

The embattled grappler had maintained that his scandalous dope test was a result of conspiracy by rivals who spiked his food or drinks. The CAS however, pointed out there's no evidence to prove that doping was unintentional.

As a result India's spot in the 74kg category goes vacant.

Narsingh's name appeared in the official schedule released after he underwent the regular weigh-in.  

Having grabbed the quota by virtue of his bronze in Las Vegas 2015, Narsingh's road to Rio was fraught with obstacles after he was named to represent India ahead of double Olympic-medallist Sushil Kumar. 

Sushil dragged Narsingh to Delhi High Court and a bitter courtroom tussle followed but the judgement went in latter's favour. 

There was more drama in store for the Asian Games bronze-medallist after he returned positive for a banned steroid following a dope test in June by the NADA.
Narsingh's roommate at the SAI centre in Sonipat also tested positive for the same substance but WFI backed the Mumbai-based wrestler's claims of a foul-play. 

Days before the Olympics, Narsingh was cleared of doping charges by the NADA who said the wrestler was indeed a victim of 'sabotage' and deserved the benefit of doubt.
However, his hopes were dealt a massive blow when WADA challenged the NADA's decision and moved the CAS, a move that ended with the wrestler handed a four-year ban. 

• Rio Olympics, on Rediff.com