Suspended Wrestler Sumit Malik was unaware of any stimulants as he admits to have taken painkillers

 

Suspended Wrestler Sumit Malik on Tuesday said that he was not aware of how a banned stimulant had entered his body. However, the wrestler admitted that he was on painkillers during the recent Olympic Qualifiers and had informed the world body before the start of the Qualifiers.

Sumit was handed a provisional suspension from the United World Wrestling (UWW) after a specified banned substance: 5-methylhexan-2 amine (1,4 dimethylpentylamine) — was found in his sample.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold-medallist had secured the 125kg quota for the Tokyo Olympics at the qualifiers which were held in Bulgaria. However, now he has been suspended from the Tokyo Olympics after failing doping tests.

“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 the same painkillers before also, I don’t know how I tested positive,” Malik told PTI.

“UWW people have also informed me that the quantity of the substance is less than one per cent. It’s merely 0.5 per cent. They have told me that a clear picture will be given to me in 3-4 days,” he added.

However, when the Commonwealth Gold medallist claimed that he had taken only these two painkillers and nothing else, AIIMS AIIMS senior resident doctor Uditi Gupta opined that none of the drugs contains any stimulant.

“Neither Mobizox nor Voveran contains any stimulant. It might be there in some other protein supplements he was taking.

“Methylhexanamine (found in Malik’s sample) is a stimulant. It is sometimes used for nasal decongestion but never for pain relief,” she added.

When PTI questioned Sumit Malik whether he consulted any doctor before taking the drugs, the wrestler denied it. “No, I did not ask anyone. I took it on my own. I have taken these painkillers before also but never tested positive,” Malik replied.

“Now they tell me that they have found something in my pre-workout sample also but did not tell me what it is,” the 125kg wrestler said who allowed testing his B sample on June 9.

However, Malik is optimistic that he can come out clean and also participate at the Tokyo Olympics in the 125kg quota for the country.

“People who are handling it, tell me that it’s not a drug, it’s not something heavy. I am hopeful I will be cleared and I will be able to compete in the Olympics,” the 28-year-old said.