Confusion prevailed over wrestler Rajiv Tomar's pulling out of the Senior Asian Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan today with officials giving conflicting reasons on the matter.
Tomar had gone to Astana without undergoing the mandatory reinstatement test after coming out of doping ban a few months back. He and five other wrestlers were slapped with two-year suspensions for methylhexaneamine violation by a National Anti-Doping Disciplinary panel last year.
All of them had received relief from the NADA Appeals Panel on the ground that their cases were delayed because of various reasons that could not be attributed to the wrestlers. All of them were allowed back into competition with immediate effect by the panel.
However, as per rules, a reinstatement dope test was required to be done before their return to competition.
A Wrestling Federation of India official said that Tomar pulled out due to injuries.
"Rajiv Tomar and Amit Kumar pulled out due to injuries," WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told PTI.
But another top official said, on the condition of anonymity, that Tomar's pulling out was related to his coming to the Championships without undergoing mandatory reinstatement test.
"Rajiv Tomar was having some issues as he did not undergo mandatory reinstatement test after coming out of the dope ban. FILA will not allow him to take part in the Championships," he said.
A NADA source also said that the FILA had sought clarifications on the status of Tomar.
"FILA had written to us whether Tomar had undergone reinstatement test and we have replied by stating the factual position," a NADA source said.
"Rajiv Tomar has not undergone reinstatement test as yet," he added.
