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Why Sushil Kumar cannot go to Rio...

July 27, 2016 09:39 IST

Sushil Kumar

IMAGE: Two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar. Photograph: Getty Images.

After bagging the 74kg Olympic quota berth with a World Championships bronze last year, Narsingh Yadav was selected by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to represent India at the Rio Games.

Two time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar's demands for a trial were rejected by the Federation as well as the Delhi High Court after a lengthy legal battle.

But 10 days days before the Olympics, Narsingh, was handed provisional suspension after he tested positive for a banned substance.

Soon after failing dope test, Narsingh floated the conspiracy theory.

Sushil Kumar later ruled himself out of the running to take Narsingh's spot at Rio.

Sushil revealed in an audio message on Twitter that he has not been training much ever since it was decided that Narsingh will be representing India in 74kg weight category after a legal battle. 

The ace wrestler told a television channel, “I have not been preparing for the Games then how can I suddenly go to Rio. Till the time the case was pending I was going to training but once Narsingh was named as the final candidate I even stopped training. It will be very difficult for me to compete.”

His coach Satpal said they had nothing personal against Narsingh and they went to the court only demanding for a trial so that the best wrestler in the weight category represents India in the Olympics.

"We went to the court only for a fair trial. We did not went to the court to stop Narsingh. After the court ruled in Narsingh's favour, Sushil's chapter was closed. We didn't go to higher court because we wanted the best wrestler to represent India and win a medal for the country," he said.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) of India has replaced Narsingh with Praveen Rana in the 74kg category of wrestling for Rio Olympics.

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