Source: CNN

Pakistan pace bowler Mohammed Asif has become embroiled in another drug controversy after being identified as the player who failed a doping test during the inaugural Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.

“The IPL can now confirm that Mohammed Asif is under scrutiny for a doping violation,” the Indian Premier League said in a statement Monday.

The IPL said it had notified the player, the Pakistan Cricket Board and Asif’s IPL franchise, the Delhi Daredevils, regarding the findings of an independent, World Anti-Doping Agency-approved laboratory.

IPL officials had examined the player’s medical forms submitted before the tournament, where he was allowed to declare any prescribed medication.

“It was checked if Asif had applied for and was granted a therapeutic use exemption,” the IPL said. “Asif had not applied for an exemption.”

Asif, who was detained in Dubai last month for 19 days for possession of a banned substance, can ask for his B-sample to be tested.

He was held in the United Arab Emirates after authorities allegedly found opium in his possession as he traveled through the Dubai International airport on June 1 on his way home from the IPL tournament.

He returned home proclaiming his innocence on June 20.

“No banned substance was recovered from me, and all of my tests were clear,” he told reporters at Lahore International Airport.

He said he was also cleared in two earlier medical tests before playing in India, claiming: “If those tests had not been cleared, ICC would have banned me earlier.”

But after a meeting with PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf, he made a formal apology the same day.

“I feel shame and apologize to the whole nation over what happened,” he said.

Asif was accused of carrying 0.01 ounces (0.25 grams) of opium. The test bowler tested negative for drugs and was not charged, but was questioned by Dubai authorities for drug possession and smuggling while he remained in custody at the airport’s detention center.

While detained in Dubai, Asif — a promising fast bowler with 51 wickets in 11 test matches — was excluded from Pakistan’s Asian Cup squad.

Pakistan selectors reportedly delayed the announcement of the Champions Trophy squad Monday before the IPL released the identity of the player accused of doping.

In 2006, Asif and fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone. The PCB initially banned the players for one and two years respectively, but the suspensions were overturned on appeal

 E-mail this article to a friend

Tags: bowler, Controversy, doping test