PCB assures Asif of fair trial under its anti-doping regulations

PCB assures Asif of fair trial under its anti-doping regulationsKarachi, Jan 21 : The Pakistan Cricket Board has assured suspended fast bowler Mohammad Asif of a fair trial over his Dubai misadventure, but he will be dealt with according to strict PCB anti-doping regulations.

"The Board made it clear that Asif will be dealt according to strict PCB anti-doping regulations which he said are now compliant with the guidelines given by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA)," a senior official said.

"You cannot hang a man without giving him a fair trial," Saleem Altaf, the PCB chief operating officer, told reporters here at the National Stadium.

Asif, 28, was caught and detained in Dubai over possession of opium, and was detained in Dubai for 19 days before high-level maneuvers paved the path for his deportation from UAE, The News reported.

Earlier this month, the report prepared by the Dubai authorities revealed that Asif confessed to using opium to boost his energy and has now been barred from entering UAE.

It led to widespread calls of tough action against the dope-tainted pacer, who is also battling a possible two-year ban after testing positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone while featuring in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last May.

Senator Enver Baig, a member of the Senate's sports committee, even asked the PCB to ban Asif for life.

However, Altaf said that the Board would not rush to any conclusions. He said that the PCB is awaiting the outcome of the IPL drugs tribunal that has summoned Asif for a hearing in Mumbai on January 24-25.

"We will see what happens after that hearing," he said. Altaf said that the PCB has set up a four-member committee to probe into Asif's Dubai detention case, adding that it has been asked to carry out investigations as soon as possible," he said.

The committee includes former Pakistan Test wicket-keeper Wasim Bari, PCB's anti-doping expert Dr Sohail Saleem and the Board's media manager Asif Sohail.

"The committee will hear out Asif following his return from India (next week)," he said. "It is expected that it will submit its findings within a week of that meeting.

Altaf said that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) would have no jurisdiction over Asif's detention case in Dubai. (ANI)

People: 
Regions: