Wrestler Parveen Rana will replace dope-tainted grappler Narsingh Yadav in the men’s 74 kg freestyle event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the United World Wrestling (UWW) confirmed on Tuesday.
Yadav, who had qualified for the Rio Games when he won the bronze at the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas, has been provisionally suspended by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for testing positive for a banned steroid.
Yadav tested positive for banned anabolic steroid methandienone on Sunday.
As a result, the Indian Olympic Association informed UWW of their desire to enter Rana as their nation’s replacement.
Yadav had earned a berth for the 2015 World Championships after defeating Rana in 74 kg category at the selection trials.
Yadav has been in the news in the build-up to the Rio Games as two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar also wanted to vie for the 74 kg spot. Sushil had demanded a trial against Yadav and also had appealed in the Delhi High Court.
Eventually, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) decided to send Yadav to Rio de Janeiro.
The 2016 Olympics will be held from August 5 to 21.
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