Have identified culprit in Narsingh’s case, claims WFI

NEW DELHI:In a new twist to the ongoing Narsingh Yadav’s doping controversy, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has claimed to have identified the “culprit” who had allegedly spiked the food of the Rio-bound wrestler at the hostel mess of the SAI’s regional centre in Sonepat.

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 26

In a new twist to the ongoing Narsingh Yadav’s doping controversy, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has claimed to have identified the “culprit” who had allegedly spiked the food of the Rio-bound wrestler at the hostel mess of the SAI’s regional centre in Sonepat.

According to WFI officials, who did not wish to be named, the accused has been identified as someone very close to an international wrestler. The staff at the mess had seen the intruder entering the kitchen on June 5 at around dinner time when Narsingh’s personal cook Chandan Yadav alias Pintu was preparing the wrestler’s food, WFI claimed.

The officials informed that Chandan and other kitchen staff have testified before WFI, narrating the entire sequence of events to the federation. Jagminder Singh, chief national freestyle coach, has submitted photographic evidence to WFI against the intruder, who was part of the Asian cadet (U-17) camp in Sonepat in May-June.

“We all know about his closeness with Narsingh’s rival group. He belongs to the Chhatrasal stadium. His brother, a national-level wrestler in the 120kg category, always roams around with this international grappler, on whom WFI and Narsingh’s camp have a deep suspicion,” said a WFI official.

“We have enough material to nail the accused. We will be providing all the evidence to Narsingh to present those before the NADA’s disciplinary panel on Wednesday during the hearing. Narsingh’s lawyer has been informed about this latest development. This will make his case stronger,” the official added.

According to a WFI source, an FIR has been registered in Sonepat by Narsingh’s camp against the accused but The Tribune couldn’t get it confirmed independently.

Meanwhile, giving details about the June 5 activity, the WFI officials said when Chandan left the mess for some work, the accused sneaked into the kitchen and mixed a white powder into Narsingh’s food, which was on the stove. “When his cook returned, he found white powder floating over the dal. The substance looked like baking soda. Chandan immediately discarded the dal and prepared fresh food. Before entering the kitchen, the staff had seen the accused moving suspiciously in the mess with a packet in his hand. He had once entered Narsingh’s room while he was busy practising in the evening,” the official added.

Dutt supports Yadav

new delhi: Olympics medal-winning wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt today joined the chorus of support for Narsingh Yadav, saying that the matter should be investigated throughly. “Kushti ke liye bahut dukhi hun. Iski jaanch honi bahut zaruri hai. Mujhe vishwas hai Narsingh aesa nai kar sakta (I am very sad about the state of wrestling. This matter should be investigated. I am sure that Narsingh cannot do something like this),” Yogeshwar wrote on Twitter. — PTI