PCB reacts sharply to CAS letter

ISLAMABAD: While challenging the jurisdiction of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) strongly refuted claims for the start of Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar’s appeal case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), writes Abdul Mohi Shah.
In a hard-hitting reply to a letter received on Friday from the CAS, PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said that the court had no legal or moral right to approach the PCB.
The content of the letter available exclusively to ‘The News’ says: “It seems to us to be direly plain that the CAS lacks jurisdiction to entertain any appeal and WADA lacked the standing to launch one. Therefore we do not understand how you can entertain such an application still less make peremptory orders providing for compliance within short time scales over the holiday period,” the letter addressed by the PCB to CAS’s David Caslerly says.
Moreover the chairman said, “We would not abide by any orders made by any CAS panel as we do not wish to take any step which might be seen as having accepted that CAS has jurisdiction.”
The reply came following a letter received by the PCB headquarters in Lahore from one David Caslerly of Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Caslerly in his letter addressed to the PCB chairman demanded all the relevant material and dates suited to the board for the start of Shoaib and Asif case hearing in CAS.
While Shoaib was banned for two years, Asif got one year ban for using performance-enhancing drugs called nandrolone.
Both Shoaib and Asif were cleared of charges by appeal panel a month after ban was imposed by the PCB commission headed by Barrister Shahid Hamid. The day the two were given reprieve by the PCB appeal panel, the matter was taken up by WADA, which filed an appeal against the lifting of the ban in Luciana-based court.
However, the PCB always maintained that WADA or the CAS has no jurisdiction to hear such an appeal.
“The PCB is not a signatory of WADA code and thus does not abide by its rules.”
It is also strange to note that while almost all the European courts are closed due to the Christmas and New Year holidays, the CAS still pursues the appeal matter to possibly appease WADA or those who are interested in solving the case at earliest.
Asif on Friday was named in the Pakistan team for the tour of South Africa while fitness problems kept Shoaib out.

Pacemen i.e shoaib n Asif may still face ban, says Shahid Hamid

LAHORE: The World Anti-Doping Agency may be able to reinforce the ban against doping-tainted Pakistani pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, the country's anti-doping tribunal chief said on Sunday.

"According to the WADA code they can apply for provisional suspension," barrister Shahid Hamid told media, quashing suggestions the pair were now in the clear.

Hamid headed the three-member Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tribunal which last month banned Akhtar for two years and Asif for one year, after the new-ball pair tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

Both bans were overturned by a committee headed by a retired high court judge earlier this month, which ruled the pair had not been fully educated about doping matters.

Hamid said Pakistan was obliged to follow WADA rules.

"It is a fact that Pakistan government signed the Copenhagen declaration in 2003, like other 186 governments, including 38 countries in Asia," he said.

"Pakistan government has paid to WADA the annual and subscription fee for the years 2006 and 2007.

"This declaration, through culture and sports ministries, binds us to follow the WADA codes and under clause 13 of their codes, the WADA has the right of appeal against the decision of a national anti-doping commission whether it is done during the competition or out of competition."

Hamid also disagreed that Akhtar's decision not to sign a contract with the PCB could give him any leeway.

"Akhtar has not signed the latest contract, but he has signed an identical contract before and that contract in its provision is identical and under clause 3 of the contract he was bound not only by the PCB but by the ICC anti-doping policies as well," he added.

Doping Saga continues-III

read first:Doping Saga continues II
As discussed earlier that ICC are WADA are not happy with the decision of PCB for overturning the ban on shoaib and Mohd. Asif after the dope test being found positive,so after a lot of discussion and gossip,WADA has finally knocked the door of International court of Justics for sports and they have submitted their appeal against PCB's decision.
If u are wondering about the stand of ICC here,so let me clear what ICC said,
"Our Lawyers have studied that case very carefully,and we agree that we cant interfere in the matter legally anyhow.But still,we back WADA and will provide our full support if needed"
WADA thinks very oppsite to ICC.WADA official announced that they have the right to interfere in any doping case happened anywhere in the world and they have the right to appeal against PCB.
The hearing of the appeal is expected to be after the christamas holidays.

ICC backs WADA on Shoaib, Asif dope case

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council backed Monday WADA's appeal to CAS to reinstate doping bans on Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had banned Akhtar for two years and Asif for one on Nov. 1 after they tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone. But an appeals tribunal overturned the decision on Dec. 5.

ICC chief executive officer Malcolm Speed said his organization will offer WADA its full support.

"Our lawyers have examined the finding of the Pakistan appeals panel and do not believe the ICC has a right of appeal, but we will cooperate with WADA and provide it with any assistance it requires," Speed said.

The World Anti-Doping Agency will argue to the Court of Arbitration of Sport that Pakistan is a full member of the ICC, which signed up to its code in July.

Speed also said target testing will be implemented for the World Cup starting in March.

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.

Asif awaits Twenty20 Cup to show fitness

KARACHI: Cleared from a one-year doping ban, Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif believes he is fit enough to make a comeback in the national side for the upcoming assignments and said is awaiting the Twenty20 tournament to show his form and fitness.
“I am fit enough to play all form of cricket as I continued my training even during the whole doping episode and will show it in the Twenty20 Cup,” said the lanky fast bowler in an interview to a local website on Wednesday.
Mohammad Asif had his one-year ban overruled earlier this month by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Appellate Committee along with Shoaib Akhtar who was cleared from a two-year ban.
Both the bowlers were called back from India during the International Cricket Councils (ICCs) Champions Trophy last October after being tested positive for banned steroid nandrolone and were handed bans on November 1 by a PCB assigned tribunal.
On clearance of his ban, Asif who will turn 24 on Dec 20 said that he knew he was innocent and was very happy to get exonerated from the doping scandal.
He said he is working hard on his fitness and undergoes daily training for at least four hours at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore under coaching of former Test bowlers Waqar Younis and Aqib Javed.
The Sheikhupura-based pacer said he is looking forward for the Twenty20 Cup that will underway from Dec 21 at Karachi to prove his fitness for the comeback in national side.
“I will play in the upcoming Twenty20 tournament to show my form and fitness to the national selectors and then it will up to them to consider me or not,” Asif who has 30 wickets from six Test matches said.
He said he would try his best to give good performance in the Twenty20 Cup in order to get his place in the national side for the upcoming tour of South Africa and next year’s World Cup.

Doping Saga Continues!

The doping Saga still continues,and the latest result is that the ICC and WADA both are not happy with the Ban reversal of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohd Asif.WADA official announced that they are taking legal advice so if they can interfere in the matter and if they can challenge the decision legally.
Whereas,the PCB chairman Naseem Ashraf said that the decision of the tribunal commitee is final and there will be no reversal or changing in the decision.
There is also a rumorous going on the Nandrolone can presists in human body for six months and Woldcup is just four months away now.So there's another threat is that when ICC will conduct dope test before Worldcup,Shoaib and Asif might test positive,and if this happened than i know that no one can protect shoaib and Asif from the ban!
I know that all of Pakistani people and Asif and Rawalpindi express fans must be praying that WADA and ICC should not get into the matter but the situation is not looking Good and anything can happen anytime,so I request shoaib and Asif fans to get ready to hear any other shocking news!

Shoaib And Asif to play in Twenty20 tournament!

LAHORE: Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif will return to action in a Twenty20 Cup domestic tournament later this month after being cleared of doping charges, an official said on Saturday.

The duo had their long-term bans set aside on Tuesday by a PCB appeals tribunal.

“Both have been cleared by the board to resume playing domestic cricket. They have shown willingness to play in the Twenty20 tournament which starts from December 21,” Saqib Irfan, a Board official said.

The bowlers were recalled from the ICC Champions Trophy in India in October after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in an out of competition test.

Shoaib and Asif were subsequently banned for two years and one year respectively by another drugs inquiry commission in early November before successfully appealing against the decision.

The panel said both players had not intentionally taken the banned substance and were not properly advised about their supplements.

The PCB selectors said both will only be considered for the tour of South Africa early next year after they have proved their match fitness and form in domestic cricket.

Irfan said all the leading players in contention for the South Africa tour, including captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, have confirmed they would represent their teams in the regional Twenty20 competition in Karachi.