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Xtra Time Web Desk: Tokyo Olympics bound Indian wrestling team on Friday suffered a huge blow as wrestler Sumit Malik failed a dope test during the recent Qualifiers in Bulgaria. Sumit has been provisionally suspended by the wrestling federation with immediate effect. The development is a major embarrassment for the country with just 49 days left for the Games to begin.

It also marks the second consecutive instance of a wrestler caught in dope net just before the Olympics. It’s important to recall that ahead of Rio Olympics in 2016, Indian wrestling fraternity had been hit by a similar doping scandal after Narsingh Yadav had failed the dope test.

Malik 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.

India earned eight wrestling quotas for the Tokyo edition of the Games with four men and as many women wrestlers qualifying.  Wrestlers – Bajrang Punia, Deepak Punia, Ravi Dahiya, Sonam Malik, Anshu Malik and Vinesh Phogat, Sumit Malik and Seema Bisla- were slated to represent India at the Tokyo Olympics this year.