Wrestler Narsingh Yadav is provisionally suspended and if there is no new development, he will not be able to participate in the Rio Olympics, Sports Minister Vijay Goel informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
"We have already stated that Narsingh is provisionally suspended and if there is no new development, he would not be able to go to the Olympics," he said replying to questions.
Goel said the government was in the process of setting up 19 centres for specialised games. "Our government wants to give importance to sports and we are working with "Target Olympics Podium", for which customised training is also being provided to sports personnel to help win more and more medals for the country," he said.
He said government is also taking the help of corporates for promotion of sports in the country. Goel added that no work is being done on the scheme involving MPs and it will be restarted after reworking it and after receiving more suggestions from MPs.
The Minister also said that Sports is a state subject and the states have to increase the fund allocation for its promotion as central government cannot alone take the burden of promoting sports and providing funds.
Maharashtra CM seeks justice
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday told the state Assembly that he has written to the Union Sports Minister, seeking justice for wrestler Narsingh Yadav, who has been virtually ruled out of the upcoming Rio Olympics after a doping scandal.
"I have written to the Union Sports Minister. I have said justice should be done to players like Narsingh Yadav," he said in the lower House.
Raising suspicion over the manner in which the entire doping scandal played out, Fadnavis said, "Due to such episodes, genuine players like Narsingh Yadav are bearing the brunt."
"Justice should be done to him," he said.
The Chief Minister was responding to leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who raised the issue in the Assembly.
"Yadav is from Maharashtra, and it is our duty to support talented players like him," Patil said.
26-year-old Narsingh had tested positive for banned anabolic steroid methandienone which has put his participation in the Rio Games under jeopardy. The sportsman has alleged that he was framed by rivals, who spiked his food and supplements.
Mumbai Congress on Monday claimed that Yadav has been "framed" and there was a conspiracy behind the doping scandal.
"He is innocent, it is a conspiracy," Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam had said, reacting to the doping scandal.
"Yadav is a victim of wrestling politics in north India. He has been framed. He is innocent. I know him for several years. He drinks milk, curd and lassi. He doesn't have any vices," the former Member of Parliament said.
The Wrestling Federation of India should verify the facts from National Anti-Doping Agency as it is a question of India's self-respect, the Congress leader had said.