Pakistan's Asif shocked over IPL dope test failure by AFP

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Player:

Mohammad Asif

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DateLine: 14th July 2008

 

Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif expressed shock and proclaimed his innocence on Monday after the Indian Premier League (IPL) announced that he had tested positive for a banned substance.

 

The IPL named the 25-year-old fast bowler a day after it was revealed that an unnamed player had failed a drugs test at the tournament held from April to June.

 

"I am shocked and surprised because I was extra cautious and never used any banned substances," Asif told AFP.

 

Asif said he would speak to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) before taking any further steps.

 

"I don't know what to do. I will decide the next course of action only after consultation with the PCB," he said.

 

The announcement, the latest in a series of shocks for Pakistani cricket, comes a month after Asif was seized at Dubai airport while returning from the IPL on charges of possession of opium.

 

He was detained for 19 days before being deported by police in the Gulf emirate, who said the quantity of illegal drugs found was "insignificant."

 

In October 2006, Asif was banned for one year and fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for two years after they failed dope tests conducted internally by the PCB.

 

The bans were however overturned on appeal.

(Article: Copyright © 2008 AFP)