Narsingh Cleared But What Now?

By sensationally agreeing with wrestler Narsingh Pancham Yadav's version that he was indeed a victim of "sabotage" by his jealous rivals, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) national body might have opened a can of worms.

NADA can't get away by merely saying that its hearing panel has concluded that Narsingh "has been a victim of sabotage done by a competitor" while ignoring his positive test banned anabolic steroid methandienone.

Now, NADA will have to satisfy all stakeholders involved the episode that its decision was based on irrefutable 'proof' furnished by Narsingh, a 74kg wrestler who was initially picked to represent India at the Rio Olympics beginning on Friday.

Although it is a matter of investigation for the Haryana police – as Narsingh had tested positive while training at the Sonepat centre of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) – NADA too will have to substantiate its decision with sufficient proof, and possibly assist the police. It is clear cut criminal case and an investigation is in order.

And if a proper and honest investigation is done to find who was Narsingh "competitor" who played spoilsport we might well see a lot of dirty linen being washed in public, leading to another long and nasty court battle between warring parties.

An investigation, if done properly, could well lead to the uncovering of some extremely dirty sporting rivalry. But it all depends on the intent of the chief actors – the Haryana Police, the NADA, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and even the sports ministry/Central government.

Meanwhile, although Narsingh is happy at the moment, he will have to clear a "re-instatement dope test" – and the world body's nod – to get the "all clear" to compete in the Olympics. So, as of now, it will be premature to say that Narsingh is on his way to Rio.

There are processes to be gone through. After Narsingh was tested positive, the WFI had informed the United World Wrestling (UWW) that Railways' Parveen Rana would replace him, after the world body allowed India a replacement as the positive result had come out of competition. Late on Monday evening, the UWW website displayed Rana's name as participant from India in the 74kg category.

On its part, the WFI, after the NADA decision, wrote to the UWW on Monday evening, saying that it would like Narsingh, and not Rana, to compete at the Olympics. A reply is awaited from UWW, and it might come only on Tuesday.

Narsingh's lawyer Vidushpat Singhania explained the procedure for the re-instatement of wrestler for the Rio Games.

"There are three things [to clear]. How the WFI nominates athletes I am not aware as it is a technical thing. Since I am not aware I should not comment on it. Second, a re-instatement testing has to be done on Narsingh before goes to Rio," Singhania told Outlook.

"Third, we are hoping that WADA has not lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration in Sports in Lausanne [against the NADA decision to exonerate Narsingh]. If it has been lodged we will fight it out. WADA can only appeal – which is against the merits of an order or a decision that it considers wrong – to the Court of Arbitration in Sports. But even if they have appealed that wouldn't mean that could be stopped; it only means that we [Team Narsingh] have to fight it out till the time he can participate," he said.

NADA Director General Navin Agarwal said WADA has been informed of its decision to exonerate Narsingh.

When asked if Narsingh can indeed compete in the Olympics, Agarwal told Outlook: "From our side he has been cleared. "It is now up to the concerned federations – the international and national wrestling federations, and the Olympic committee...there are various parties involved – to take a call on his participation or otherwise."

Whether or not Narsingh eventually competes, the Haryana Police seem to have a case on hand – to investigate as to who all were part of the criminal conspiracy against the wrestler and deliberately spiked his food/drink.

Navin Agarwal said if need be people who are part of NADA panel would assist the police in investigation.

"An FIR has been registered [by Narsingh] in the police station in Rai, district Sonepat. They will investigate the sabotage angle. The [NADA hearing] panel has only ruled that there had been a sabotage and now it is up to the concerned police to be able to identify whether there was a criminal conspiracy or not," Agarwal said.

Will the NADA hearing panel assist the police in investigation? "Well, if any assistance is required by the police, all concerned people are expected to cooperate," Agarwal said.

The bottom line is: a major controversy could now start if the police impartially investigate the scandal, without getting influenced by possible political pressure.

For the record, WFI president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh is a BJP member of Parliament.