The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today said that it will not object to wrestler Narsingh Yadav replacing Praveen Rana in the Rio Olympics if he is cleared by NADA in an ongoing dope scandal. Rana has been nominated by the Wrestling Federation of India for the 74kg freestyle quota place after Narsingh tested positive for a banned steroid. Narsingh’s case is being heard by a NADA Disciplinary panel.
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“IOA is just like a post office. We are the facilitators. We have nominated Praveen Rana in place of Narsingh on the desire of the WFI, which was accepted by the United World Wrestling (UWW),” the IOA Secretary-General Rajeev Mehta told PTI. “If WFI wants to resend Narsingh for the Rio Games, after a favourable decision from the NADA panel and if the international federation (UWW) agrees to that, why would we object to that? We have no issues in that and we will allow Narsingh to be in the Olympics in that case,” he added.
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Mehta also said that the IOA has cleared a 211-member contingent, including 124 athletes, for the Rio Games. The Indian contingent will have 87 members as support staff, including coaches. The 124 athletes include four hockey players (2 each of the men's and women’s teams), who have been named as reserves and who will not stay in the Athletes’ Village. The number of athletes will also be reduced by one if shot-putter Inderjeet Singh, whose ‘A’ sample has tested positive for a banned substance, is barred by the NADA from taking part in the Olympics.
When asked if the Indian contingent needs to be cleared by the Sports Ministry, Mehta said, “I think there is no need for that. We are not taking funds from the government.”
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