In a dramatic turn of events, Indian wrestler Narsingh Yadav was cleared to compete in the Rio Olympics by India’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), which said that the wrestler was a victim of "sabotage" and deserved the benefit of doubt.
Yadav will represent India in 74kg freestyle category at the 2016 summer games in Rio.
Yadav’s samples had returned positive for methandienone- a banned anabolic steroid. The wrestler claimed it was a conspiracy against him.
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Giving the wrestler the benefit of doubt, the anti-doping agency concluded that he was a victim of “sabotage”, and exonerated him on the basis of his past clean record.
"We kept in mind that in the past, till June 2, none of his samples were positive. It was inconceivable that one-time ingestion would be of benefit. Therefore, the panel is of the view that the one-time ingestion was not intentional," said Navin Agarwal, director general of India’s National Anti-Doping Agency.
"The panel concludes that the athlete deserves the benefit of article 10.4 of the NADA's anti-doping code. Keeping in view that he was victim of a sabotage, the panel exonerates the athlete from charges of anti-doping rules of NADA," he added.
Narsingh Yadav was in jubilant mood after the verdict was announced and thanked India’s prime minister Narendra Modi for getting him justice.
"I am grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for getting me justice. I was always training during this phase and I hope to win a medal at Rio," he said.
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The Wrestling Federation of India is now sending Narsingh's name to the international wrestling federation for re-registration, and Praveen Rana who was to replace Yadav, will be withdrawn for the 74 kg freestyle category.
Earlier, a man was identified who is alleged to have spiked Narsingh Yadav's food.
After his dope tests returned positive, Yadav had alleged that he was victim of a conspiracy.
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