“Under the code of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), NADA also works and Narsingh was found positive after a test conducted by NADA and he was provisionally suspended”. Any decision on his getting a clean chit is likely only on Thursday when the NADA Disciplinary Panel resumes hearing in the matter.
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The hearing, which lasted three and a half hours, was held in camera with no media allowed, a rare scenario at Nada proceedings in the last few years.
Narsingh’s counsel Vidushpat Singhania sounded satisfied with the way proceedings went on the day.
“We have full faith in the panel”. We are trying to convince them. We have presented our argument today and panel was very patient and we had a very fair hearing. “However, the defence stuck to the conspiracy theory even while admitting that it did not have any proof to substantiate its claims”, the source said.
It was also brought to the fore that the perpetrator who mixed the banned substance into Narsingh’s food has been identified after which the wrestler went ahead and filed a FIR under Section 328 and 120B, at the Sonepat Police Station naming two young fellow wrestlers responsible for the heinous act. Thereby, he called for a CBI probe into the issue so that the open questions at the moment can be answered at the earliest and overturn the provisional suspension that he is under.
The latest development was not surprising though as methandienone if taken orally, remains in the body for 2 to 4 weeks.
“The application on the second dope test (taken on July 5) that has also turned out to be positive, was also submitted”, said Singh.
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.
So is there a Bulgaria angle to all this?
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Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) also strongly put its weight behind the 26-year-old grappler, insisting that it was a clear case of sabotage. If Narsingh does not get the green signal from NADA, Parveen Rana has already been named as his replacement.
