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Dope scandal
Asif
Suspended by Pakistan Board
Cricinfo staff -
July 15, 2008
Mohammad
Asif has been suspended by the Pakistan board for
testing positive for a banned substance during random
drug tests conducted during the Indian Premier League.
To make it worse for Asif, the Pakistan board has
refused to assist him in the matter, though he has the
right to appeal against the suspension. Asif has said he
will ask for a testing of his B sample.
"Asif has been suspended until the drug tribunal of the
IPL completes its inquiry," Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's
chief operating officer, said. "For the time being he is
suspended from playing all forms of the game until
further decision which includes the right of appeal."
The board also said it would go by the decision taken by
the IPL's drug tribunal. "Since Asif competed in a
tournament outside Pakistan, we will honour the findings
of the IPL drug tribunal and will assist them if
required," Naghmi said.
He also explained the PCB's decision to not provide
assistance to Asif. "Our policy on dope offenders is
very clear," he told The News. "The board will
not provide any kind of help to Asif and he will have to
fight his case himself. The player seems to be in a lot
of trouble. A second drug offence means a life ban."
If he is left to fight for himself this time, it will
signal a distinct change in the board's policy. In 2006,
Asif and Shoaib Akhtar had their bans overturned after
successfully appealing to an independent committee
against the original punishments. Though they escaped on
a technicality, it was widely speculated that the
decision had the PCB's complicit support.
Asif, who said he was "shocked
and surprised" at failing the test, has asked for
his B sample to be examined. "We will fight the case
because we believe that our client has not taken any
drug so we will go for the B sample test and do whatever
required to clear Asif's name," his lawyer Shahid Karim
told AFP.
This is Asif's second drug offence since failing a dope
test before the Champions Trophy in 2006, and the board
has warned that a life ban is possible if he is found
guilty. Last month he was detained in Dubai for 19 days
under suspicion of possessing a contraband substance and
is already the subject of a board inquiry into those
events.
While the PCB has chosen to distance itself from the
current controversy, it hasn't stopped former Pakistan
cricketers from lashing out at its functioning. Aamer
Sohail, a former captain, has blamed the board for not
taking appropriate action against doping after Asif and
Shoaib tested positive for Nandrolone, a banned
substance, in 2006.
"My question is, what has the PCB done in this regard,"
Sohail told the News. "What measures did the
board take since Asif and Shoaib Akhtar tested positive
for banned drugs in 2006? Did they introduce dope
testing in domestic cricket? The board has totally
failed to handle things.
"The last two years have been the worst for Pakistan
cricket and the situation will get worse if no action is
taken."
The IPL had announced on Monday that Asif's sample was
positive after comparing the result from the
WADA-approved laboratory in Switzerland [that tested the
samples] with the data collected by IDTM, the
Sweden-based independent agency that organised the
tests.
Asif played eight of the Delhi Daredevils' 15 matches in
the IPL, taking eight wickets with an economy rate of
9.25.
Source: © Cricinfo |
