Narsingh Yadav, Sushil Kumar, Parveen Rana: How doping fiasco could set Indian wrestling back by decades

By giving preference to Parveen Kumar Rana over Sushil Kumar, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has shown its vindictiveness toward the double Olympic medalist.

No doubt Sushil made it ugly by moving Delhi High Court against Narsingh Yadav’s selection for Rio Olympic Games, but WFI should not have looked for revenge against him. No one can deny Sushil is as good as Narsingh and if there was a possibility of Narsingh’s replacement, Sushil should have been an automatic choice. Instead of stooping low, WFI should have been magnanimous.

Narsingh Yadav, Sushil Kumar. Getty

In some quarters there have been veiled attack on Sushil and his father-in-law-cum-coach Satpal. They are targeted for being behind conspiracy to spike Narsingh’s food with banned substance. But merely on the basis of news reports in a section of media, WFI should not have been prejudiced against Sushil.

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When Narsingh openly accused staff and an officer of Sports Authority of India at Sonipat, WFI should have immediately reported the matter to police and isolate the mess staff. Crucial evidence is likely to be tampered with in the intervening period.

Narsingh has no choice but to take a news channel’s sting operation as an arm to fight his battle. A sting revealed that there might have been a huge conspiracy to frame Narsingh.

An intruder, apparently, spiked Narsingh's food on 5 June at the SAI center in Sonipat. Junior wrestlers and a cook have alleged food contamination.

The cook found intruders and noticed froth coming out of the food which was being prepared, the sting operation found.

The curtains have not drawn on the controversy. On Wednesday Narsingh is likely to lodge an FIR in Sonipat where the wrestlers were attending a national camp. Later in the day he will appear before NADA’s hearing panel. If NADA clears him of doping charges he will go to Rio otherwise Rana will remain as India’s entry in 74-kg category in the Olympic Games.

What if Narsingh fails to convince NADA panel and Sushil goes to court again, this time to convince the judge that he is better than WFI choice Parveen Rana? The problem is, hypothetically speaking if the Judge stands by WFI decision and Parveen goes to Rio it will be tragic for Sushil. And if the decision goes in Sushil’s favour it will be a slap on WFI face. In both scenario wrestling will go behind by decades.