There is lack of education among players on doping: Shoaib

KARACHI: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said on Sunday there is a lack of education among cricketers about banned substances.
“There are so many vitamins, remedies, syrups that can produce steroids but we don’t know about them, never learnt about them,” Shoaib told reporters at the National Bank Sports Complex.
The PCBs doping tribunal last month banned Shoaib for two years and Mohammad Asif for one year after both tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone - a decision reversed by the PCB’s appeals committee.
“It’s been a tough time but thank God it’s over now,” Shoaib said. “A lot has been said but now I just want to concentrate on cricket. I don’t want to look behind now,î he added.
“We didn’t take anything knowingly. I’ve had so many injuries in my career and I’ve taken so many medicines for them. Players are not doctors so they don’t always know,” he remarked.
Shoaib said that players found it difficult to understand the literature on doping.
“Speaking English and reading English are very different things. Many people have little education too,” Shoaib said.
Shoaib, also known as Rawalpindi Express, said that there must be a proper doctor and a nutritionist associated with the team so that players know exactly which dietary supplements were good for the players.
The PCB organised lectures on doping in 2002, but Shoaib felt that was not enough to educate the players.
“They only told us to give urine samples like this and that,” Shoaib said. “Lectures are fine but there is no education. We were not told this (supplement) you can take and this you can’t,” he explained.
The PCB has said that both fast bowlers have to prove their fitness to come under consideration for next month’s tour to South Africa.
Shoaib has played one first class game in which he bowled 12 overs and also scored 28 runs.
Shoaib rated Pakistan as the second best team after Australia for next year’s World Cup in the West Indies.