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Shoaib and Asif tribunal to start Pakistan doping inquiry under way
(about 16 hours later)
Suspended Pakistan bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif could attend a doping tribunal as early as Saturday. A doping tribunal involving Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif has begun in Lahore.
The pair tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone and were sent home from the Champions Trophy in India, but their B samples have not been examined. The pair were sent home from the ICC Champions Trophy in India after testing positive for a banned steroid.
Pakistan Cricket Board operations director Salim Altaf said a preliminary hearing would start on Saturday, though it was not clear where it would be. Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam, lawyer Shahid Hamid and doping expert Dr Waqar Ahmed are hearing the case, which could last for up to two weeks.
He said: "There is a possibility that Shoaib and Asif will appear." "I cannot predict any time frame but we will try to reach the conclusion as early as possible," Hamid commented.
Shahid Hamid, who represented banned player Salim Malik during a match-fixing inquiry in 1998, is expected to chair the tribunal. Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam will also appear. When the inquiry is over, the three-man panel will make recommendations to the Pakistan Cricket Board, who will have the final say in the matter.
Doping expert Waqar Ahmed, the medical director of the Pakistan Sports Board, has been appointed as the third and final member of the panel.
The tribunal is expected to take two weeks to return its findings and recommendations to the PCB, which will then take a final decision.
Under International Cricket Council doping rules the penalty for a first doping offence is a ban of two years.Under International Cricket Council doping rules the penalty for a first doping offence is a ban of two years.
However, it is up to the PCB to make an initial ruling on a term of suspension, as the test was carried out by them, not the ICC. However, it is up to the PCB to rule on any suspension, as the test was carried out by them, not the ICC.
Traces of nandrolone were found after the two players were tested last month.
Shoaib has already protested his innocence, stating: "I have not knowingly taken any performance enhancing drugs and would never cheat my team-mates or opponents in this way."
There has, however, been no public comment from Asif, who has only played six Test matches and, at 23, is eight years younger than his team-mate.
The pair attended PCB headquarters at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday to give their version of events to the panel.
"We will give a fair chance to both players," said Hamid, who represented former Test batsman Salim Malik during the match-fixing inquiry five years ago.
The Spots Medicine Association of Pakistan has criticised the PCB for naming Shoaib and Asif as the players involved before the outcome of the inquiry.
The International Cricket Council, meanwhile, has praised Pakistan for conducting out of competition drugs tests on its own initiative.
"Cricket takes its place alongside many other sports where we say in relation to doping and illegal substances we take a zero tolerance position," said chief executive Malcolm Speed.
"If it is found these players have breached the code it is a disappointing day in cricket but other sports have faced the similar problem."