After a three-and-a-half-hour long marathon hearing on Wednesday, National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) disciplinary panel adjourned the hearing on wrestler Narsingh Yadav's dope scandal to Thursday evening.
"Narsingh Yadav came with his defence and the panel heard him in detail. Proceedings continued quite late in the evening and they have been adjourned for tomorrow and panel will meet again at 4 pm," said NADA DG Navin Agarwal.
When asked on the minimum sanctions they are seeking, he said that will be decided as per the WADA guidelines.
Navin also confirmed that the hearings are not entirely over on Wednesday and they will continue to hear on Thursday as well.
Meanwhile, Narsingh's lawyer Vidushpat Singhania said the panel was very patient and gave them good time to put forth their argument.
"The disciplinary panel gave us a fair hearing. They gave us a long hearing. They were very patient and we are expecting from them that they will do justice in this case. We put forth our arguments which are many folds," he told reporters after the hearing on Wednesday.
He also added that since the panel is aware that the time they have in their side is quite less before the Olympics start, everything is done at a brisk pace.
"The panel is giving us time. They have been very patient throughout the hearing. The panel is aware of the upcoming Olympics and they are taking the steps as per the urgency," he added.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh also expressed his satisfaction with the hearing.
"Narsingh's lawyers have presented strong arguments in his favour in front of the NADA committee. They have filed a 600-page affidavit. The panel took note of the arguments and considered the points made by the lawyers. Narsingh and his lawyers seem to be happy with the way things went at the hearing today," Brij Bhushan told PTI.
However, Singhania failed to mention anything on the two wrestlers who were earlier named by the WFI president, of their alleged involvement in the food spiking scandal.
"We suspect Jitesh, who fights in the 75kg category, and Sumit. Both of them live in Chhatarsaal. And one of them has admitted to spiking Narsingh's food. I can't say on the conspiracy and can't say whether they did this on their own or on someone's asking. We cannot investigate this but we support Narsingh's demand for a CBI inquiry," Brij Bhushan said.
However, the lawyer did not comment on that regard. "We cannot make any statement on the WFI's claim that two wrestlers have been identified behind the conspiracy. We are hopeful that Narsingh can be exonerated," he explained.
After saying that he remains hopeful of wrapping it all up on Thursday, Vidushpat said: "Today, primarily it was our arguments. The NADA still has to argue. NADA will put forth his arguments tomorrow. There are provisions available (for sending Narsingh to Rio), let us see what decision the NADA panel gives."
He also added that Narsingh remained extremely patient during the whole episode.
"Narsingh was extremely patient. As such there were no direct questions put to him. But he was taking what was coming from hearing and disciplinary panel in a very poised manner," he said.
Yadav's promoters JSW Sports' MD Mustafa Ghouse echoed the lawyers' version of how well Narsingh has been taking this entire episode on his stride.
"He is a tough kid. He has taken everything really well in his stride. We have to take it as it goes," Ghouse said.
Also he added that Yadav has been maintaining his fitness well by regularly practicing.
"He is doing his best to keep the training sessions going. He is putting in double sessions whenever he can. He also had training this morning," he explained.
Narsingh's chances of competing at Olympics looked to be over on Monday, when the WFI named Pravenn Rana for the replacement slot. However, the WFI president said Rana's name was only sent on July 25 because it was the last date for naming replacements to secure the Olympic quota.
"Rana's name was sent to secure country's Olympic quota and the proposal was accepted on July 26. If we wouldn't have recommended Rana's name, we would have missed our quota," Singh said.
later the United World Wrestling also issued a statement regarding this context.
"United World Wrestling informed the Indian Olympic Association last week that since the positive test occurred outside of the qualification event they would be allowed replace Yadav with another wrestler, or else vacate the qualification spot," the statement read.
"The Indian Olympic Association informed United World Wrestling of their desire to enter Parveen RANA as their nation's replacement at 74kg in men's freestyle," it added.
However, Ghouse was least interested in talking about the replacement as he was more focused on clearing Narsingh's name.
"At this point of time, it's important to clear Narsingh's name, we are not thinking about replacement in Rana," he said.
When asked which is important, clearing Yadav's name or also seeing to it he is on the plane to Rio to represent India, he said: "The thing is both. First and foremost we have to get him cleared then we will see what we have to do after that."