Shoaib, Asif cleared of doping charges

KARACHI: An appeals tribunal on Tuesday overturned doping bans on Pakistani cricket fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif, its chief said.

Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, chairman of the three-member appeals panel, said that it was setting aside that punishment.

``This appeals committee holds that Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif cannot be deemed to have committed a doping offense'' under PCB anti-doping regulations, he told reporters in Karachi.

Neither player was advised on taking vitamin supplements which may have led to them testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone, Ibrahim said.

"This appeal committee therefore holds that Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif will not be deemed to have committed a doping offence," said Ibrahim, a retired judge.

"The ban and punishment imposed by the earlier tribunal is hereby set aside as being contrary to the provision of laws."

Asif welcomed the verdict and said: ``My lawyers gave me a lot of hope and my parents supported me.''

A tribunal banned Akhtar, 31, for two years in October for doping while Asif, 23, received a one-year ban for the same alleged offence. The new ball pairing had denied taking any illegal substances.

Akhtar and Asif were recalled from the Champions Trophy in India in October after they tested positive in out-of-competition tests conducted by the PCB.

Renowned lawyer Abid Minto represented Shoaib Akhtar during the hearings of the appeal committee while Asif’s case was fought by Aftab Gul, an accomplished lawyer who is also a former Test cricketer.
I am literally unable to express the joy I am feeling due to this overturned ban!and I am sure that Pakistani nation and all other Asif and Shoaib fans must have been very happy like me!