Major Setback For India! Tokyo-Bound Wrestler Sumit Malik Fails Dope Test, Provisionally Suspended

Sumit Malik's dream of competing at the at the Bulgaria event, starting July 23, seems as good as over and the 23-year-old could be banned from the sport if even his B sample returns positive.

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A few weeks before the Tokyo Olympics, India suffered a major setback after 2018 Commonwealth Games gold-medalist Sumit Malik, who had managed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in the 125kg category, was caught in dope net.

After Malik failed dope test, the International wrestling body United World Wrestling (UWW) temporarily suspended the Olympic-bound Indian wrestler. According to some reports, Malik was found guilty of consuming a banned substance.  India's Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has not commented on the matter yet, while the Wrestling Association has defended Sumit.

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Malik's dream of competing at the at the Bulgaria event, starting July 23, seems as good as over and the 23-year-old could be banned from the sport if even his B sample returns positive.

"The UWW (United World Wrestling) informed the Wrestling Federation of India yesterday that Sumit has failed the dope test. Now he has to give his B sample on June 10," a WFI source told PTI.

Malik has been nursing a knee injury that he suffered during the national camp before the Olympic Qualifiers began at different venues. 

"He must have taken something unknowingly. Maybe he was taking some Ayurvedic medicine to treat his injured knee and that might have contained some banned substances," said the source.

"But these wrestlers should have been careful, they know the risks involved by taking such medicines," he added.

He has the right to challenge the suspension but it is clear that by the time hearing takes place and a verdict comes out, he would miss competing at the Olympics. 

(With PTI Inputs)