Indian wrestler Narsingh Yadav has been given a four-year ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which means he will not participate in the ongoing Olympics. He was scheduled to take on France's Zelimkhan Khadjiev in the qualification round on Friday.
"The CAS panel did not accept the argument of the athlete that he was the victim of sabotage and noted that there was no evidence that he bore no fault, not that the anti-doping rule violation was not intentional," said a statement from CAS. "Further more, all results obtained by Narsingh Yadav from and including 25 June 2016 shall be disqualified, with all resulting consequences (including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes)."
The World Anti-Doping Agency had appealed to the CAS against India's National Anti-Doping Agency's decision to clear the wrestler of any wrongdoing after he failed two successive doping tests earlier in the year. Yadav had cried foul, claiming in a police complaint that another wrestler was trying to wreck his chances of participating in the Rio Olympics. NADA had then exonerated Yadav of all charges, saying he had been a victim of sabotage.
(Note: An earlier version of the story had said that Narsingh Yadav had been cleared of all charges. This has been clarified.)
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!