Why Narsingh Yadav’s failed dope test won’t open Rio doors for Sushil Kumar

Narsingh Yadav’s failed dope test that rules him out of the Olympics doesn’t mean that Sushil Kumar, the country’s most successful individual Olympian, gets a shot at the Rio games.

In fact, India may go unrepresented in the 74kg wrestling category as the last date for changes in the games squad was July 18. Countries can now only seek replacements for injured athletes, sources said.

Read | Wrestler Narsingh Yadav ruled out of Rio Olympics after failing dope test

The 33-year-old Kumar, who had unsuccessfully challenged Yadav’s place in the squad, doesn’t even feature in the list of standbys sent to the International Olympic Committee.

Yadav secured Olympics quota in 2015 when he won the bronze at the world wrestling championships in the US. The rules say the person who wins the quota secures a berth for the country and not the individual. The Wrestling Federation of India, however, denied Kumar a trial to take on Yadav and stake a claim to the Olympic slot.

Kumar went to the Delhi high court to win the right to compete against Yadav. The court, however, ruled that Yadav had already qualified for the games.

The 26-year-old Yadav faces suspension from all competitions after his B sample, the confirmatory test, also returned positive.

“Yes, he (Narsingh) tested positive for a banned steroid… Narsingh was personally present when his B sample was opened,” national anti-doping agency (Nada) director general Navin Agarwal said Sunday.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist tested positive for anabolic steroid methandienone that helps build muscle and enhance performance, sources said.

A deputy superintendent of police in Maharashtra, Yadav was dropped from the team that leaves for an “exposure trip” to Georgia on Monday, sources said.

The 26-year-old tested positive during a routine test on July 5. “He appeared before a disciplinary panel yesterday (Saturday). The panel sought more reports regarding the matter,” Agarwal said.

Read | Timeline of the controversy over Sushil Kumar’s demand for Rio berth