Narsingh Yadav was still in Delhi when the regulars at this SAI centre distributed sweets and danced when the news broke that Narsingh had escaped a ban, says a report in The Indian Express, adding that on Tuesday, Narsingh was at the Kandivali centre but no one knew about his whereabouts.
“It is learnt that the wrestler is in a secure room to which only Sandeep Yadav, his sparring partner who had also tested positive for the same anabolic steroid, and a few trusted aides are being allowed. Narsingh and his inner circle are being vigilant about what he eats and drinks and everything he consumes is closely monitored to ensure that no contamination takes place. It is a question of being once bitten twice shy because Narsingh got off the hook only because he could convince the NADA panel that the water he consumed at the SAI centre in Sonepat had been contaminated with steroids,” sayd the report, adding that Narsingh’s regular dormitory room is vacant, and those living around don’t know where he stays now. Rather, they aren’t allowed to know.
“Only Narsingh, his training partner Sandeep, a handful of other wrestlers and a few coaches are allowed to enter the area where he is right now,” explains Jagmal Singh, the assistant national coach, and his mentor. In secrecy, Jagmal asserts, the group finds a sense of security. A specialised cook – a junior wrestler – has been given the responsibility of preparing food for the 74 kilogram wrestler. “We’ve also ordered a fresh batch of sealed bottled water exclusively for Narsingh,” says Jagmal.
Meanwhile, according to a report in The Asian Age, a day after wrestler Narsingh Yadav was exonerated of doping charges by the National Anti-doping Agency (NADA), its parent world body WADA said that it will review the case. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Communications Coordinator Maggie Durand said that it has requested the NADA to send the case file so that it can review it.
"We requested the case file following the decision and will review the case. We have no further comment for now," Durand told PTI in a written reply when asked whether WADA will appeal to the ad hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Rio de Janeiro against the decision rendered by the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of the NADA.
According to a report in The New Indian Express, Narsingh will be sent directly to Rio de Janeiro, instead of Georgia, where the men’s team is currently training. The decision, contrary to what transpired on Monday, was taken on Tuesday by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), who felt that arranging travel to Georgia would consume precious time. They want him to prolong his stay and training in India, so that he can avail maximum time before undergoing another dope test. The chances of him appearing at the Olympics hinge on this result.
“Earlier, we had planned to send him to Georgia. He was also told about the same, and the entire squad in Georgia were also waiting for him. But it will take some time to get clearance from SAI, and preparations for the journey will negatively affect him. So we have decided to let him train in India twice a day for at least the next five days,” a reliable WFI source told Express.
