Malik says he didn’t take any stimulant

New Delhi, June 15

Suspended Indian wrestler Sumit Malik today said he has no idea how a banned stimulant entered his body but admitted he was on painkillers during the recent Olympics qualifiers and had informed the world body about that before taking the mat.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist was handed a provisional suspension by the United World Wrestling (UWW) after a specified banned substance — 5-methylhexan-2amine (1,4 dimethylpentylamine) — was found in his sample.

Malik had secured the 125kg category quota for Tokyo during the qualifiers held in Sofia, Bulgaria, last month but was handed suspension for failing dope test during the same tournament.

“There was severe pain in my knee and I had taken painkillers Mobizox and Voveran. I had informed the UWW officials about it. I have taken it before also, I don’t know how I tested positive,” Malik said. — PTI