Pakistan's Asif gets drugs hearing shifted to London by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:

Mohammad Asif

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DateLine: 18th December 2008

 

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, will appear before the IPL drugs tribunal in London next month after the hearing was shifted to a neutral venue at his request, his lawyer has said. Asif's appeal had been put off due to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

 

"We felt it would be best to have the hearing outside India after the tensions caused by the Mumbai attacks," Asif was reported saying. "We didn't want the hearing to be further delayed so we requested to hold the hearing at a neutral venue," he added.

 

Asif, 25, had tested positive for the steroid nandrolone during the inaugural edition of the tournament. The tribunal will quiz Asif about the outcome of the test result and if found guilty, Asif could face a ban of two years from all competitive cricket. Asif, who has played 11 tests, failed a dope test during the Indian Premier League in June and his 'B' sample in August was also positive. He has challenged the IPL procedure used to collect samples and the findings of the tests.

 

His case is being heard by a three-member IPL drugs inquiry tribunal whose second hearing on Nov. 29 in Mumbai was called off due to the terror attacks. The tribunal, comprising former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, the former vice-chancellor of India's Maharashtra University of Health Sciences Dr Ravi Bapat, and lawyer Shirish Gupte, had set November 29 as the date for hearing Asif's appeal in Mumbai, after he had appeared before them on October 11. Asif also faces a possible ban or fine from the Pakistan Cricket Board after he was found in possession of opium at Dubai Airport in June this year. The PCB is looking at the two separate offences as one, arguing that punishment for one will serve as punishment for the latter.

 

Asif said he and his lawyer, Shahid Karim, were happy with the new date and venue as the sports medicine specialist and anti-doping expert assisting him were based in London.

 

"I'm hoping the tribunal will reach a decision at its next hearing because it's very frustrating for me not to be able to play any cricket," he added. Asif has been suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board for his failed dope test and it will not decide on his future until after the IPL tribunal reaches a decision.