Internet Desk: Wrestler Praveen Rana was notified yesterday to join the Rio Olympic squad as he was added by the Wrestling Federation of India. Today the declaration of Union Sport’s Minister Vijay Goyel made his tour uncertain.
Today Minister Vijay Goyel announced that there should not be any replacement for any player who has been tested positive in dope test conducted by NADA.
“I don’t think any person is allowed as replacement of another, if the original player has failed the dope test,” Mr Goel told reporters in parliament. He also added, “In case a player is seriously unwell, then under extraordinary circumstances the concerned agency considers substituting another player”.
Following this declaration of the Union Minister whether the naming of Praveen Rana in pace of Narsingh Yadav will be possible or not has come under question. However, United World Wrestling has already included the name of Praveen in the list of Rio bound wrestlers following the request of WFI.
Union Sport’s Minsiter today further added that Narsingh will be under provisional suspension till the verdict of NADA comes out. Within next two days the report of the probing panel of Nada will come out. Till then there will be no decision over the matter.
NADA is a body under World Anti-Doping Agency affiliated by UNESCO. Report of this body will be considered by the Olympics organizers. For that reason Indian Ministry is not going to take any chance. As a result fate of the selection of Indian wrestler under 74 kg Freestyle category remained under confusion.
The freestyler, Rana, had earlier won a gold medal in the 74 kg weight category at the Dave Schultz Memorial wrestling tournament in USA in 2014 and gold in 70 kg category wrestling tournament in Italy in 2015.
Rana is named as replacement but if Narsingh is found innocent by NADA, then he can be back. But, even if Narsingh is cleared he can’t compete if traces of dope still are in his body.