The wrestler, who received the Arjuna Award recently, says he will appeal against ban; wants back his spot in Commonwealth Games squad.
Just in a span of four days, Olympian Rajiv Tomar has learnt how harsh life can be. On Sunday, the grappler received the Arjuna Award at the hands of president Pratibha Patil. Four days later, he learnt with shock about his failed dope test, resulting in his provisional suspension from the Commonwealth Games (CWG) squad.
“People who know me are aware I won’t do such things,” Tomar told DNA on Friday. Tomar, along with five other wrestlers, tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a stimulant in non-specified category, banned by World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in 2010. But the wrestler claimed innocence.
“I have been representing India for a long time. I wouldn’t do such stupid things to win a medal. There is a big mistake, I am confident that the federation will rectify it,” the 29-year-old said.
Tomar has a record 35 Bharat Kesari and Hind Kesari titles besides representing the country at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. He has two Commonwealth Championship gold and a silver, won silver in the Olympic qualifiers and bagged grand prix titles all over the world. However, this is the first time that he’s been involved in a controversy.
For Delhi 2010, he was touted to be India’s best bet for the gold medal in the 120kg freestyle category, his patent event. “If I had to take drugs, I would have done so before the Olympics or events of such magnitude. Why would I dope for the Commonwealth Games, which are relatively smaller Games?” he argues.
Tomar said he was suffering from cold and cough during which a doctor prescribed him some medicines. During the dope test at the Sonepat’s Sports Authority of India centre on August 8, he claims to have shown the officials the prescription. “I had informed them about my condition. I will appeal the decision and want my place in the CWG squad back,” he said.
Tomar added that he will meet Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) officials on Saturday. “If they don’t take me back, I will see what has to be done. But it is important to know where things went so wrong,” he said.
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