Olympic-bound Indian wrestler Sumit Malik fails dope test, provisionally suspended

Indian wrestler Sumit Malik, who is part of the Indian wrestling contingent for next month’s Summer Olympics, has failed a dope test and provisionally suspended with immediate effect by the United World Wrestling (UWW), according to reports.

The UWW has allegedly found the wrester guilty of the anti-doping rule violation, even though his ‘B’ sample test is still pending. Malik can be banned from wrestling if his B sample also returns positive later this month.

Sumit Malik, who made the cut for the Tokyo Games in the 125kg category last month, failed the dope test in a foreign competition which puts his chances of participating in his maiden Olympics in serious doubt. Malik was the fourth Indian freestyle wrestler to make the cut for the 2021 Games after Ravi Dahiya (57kg), Bajrang Punia (65kg) and Deepak Punia (86kg).

This marks the second instance of an Indian wrestler failing a dope test before the Olympics after Narsingh Pancham Yadav, who had tested positive for a banned substance and slapped with a four-year ban before the 2016 Summer Games in Rio.

“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.

“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.

The 28-year-old 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist had competed at the Asian Qualifiers in Almaty in April but did not succeed in earning an Olympic quota. He then competed at the Asian Championship at the same venue and returned with a medal-less performance.

However, at the World Olympic Qualifiers in Sofia held in May, Malik earned the quota by reaching the final, which he forfeited due to a knee injury.

India will be represented by 8 wrestlers at the Tokyo Olympics, which begin on July 23. But the country now risks losing one quota following Sumit’s failed dope test.