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[kban1]

The Mohammad Asif saga: No decision taken after Asif's dope hearing

Nagraj Gollapudi

January 24, 2009
 

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, has told the IPL drugs tribunal that the presence of nandrolone in his dope test during the tournament's inaugural edition was the result of using eye drops which contained the banned substance. A hearing took place today in Mumbai, but the tribunal will meet again before reaching a decision.

Asif told the tribunal - comprising Sunil Gavaskar, Dr Ravi Bapat and lawyer Shirish Gupte - that he was unaware Keratyl, the eye drops he used to treat a painful and inflamed eye, contained nandrolone and never imagined it could disrupt his career in such a "terrible" way.

"The drops elevated his nandrolone level marginally and he played cricket with that painful eye and consequently failed a dope test in the IPL," Dr Michael Graham, a sports medicine expert told Cricinfo. Graham has been working on Asif's case from the day the Pakistan fast bowler's B sample was found positive last July, and was with his client for the hearing along with lawyer Shahid Karim.

Asif and his team arrived at 10.45am at the BCCI headquarters, and proceedings began half an hour past noon. The hearing, which lasted nearly two hours, was held amid tight security, since local political parties had issued a warning against the entry of Pakistan nationals in the city following the terrorists attacks in November last year.

Asif did not face the media contingent - eagerly waiting at the entrance - following the hearing, but Graham said his client wanted to apologise to everyone, including his country, the IPL and the media. "He had no knowledge that the drops contained a prohibited substance," he said. "He is so upset that the treatment has caused such a catastrophe to his cricketing career." Graham also hoped the tribunal would act wisely. "We pray for leniency but the ultimate decision is with the tribunal. There are intelligent individuals on it. They understand any result they give could have adverse effect on his career."

This was Asif's second appearance before the tribunal. The first was on October 11, where after lengthy discussions between the two parties the case was adjourned. November 29 was the date set for the next hearing, which got delayed following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Graham said the postponement had caused further misery for Asif. "No evidence was presented before today. It was all legal arguments because we never got an opportunity to present our case earlier as the hearing was adjourned. We had all the paper work done and we were prepared but due to the terrible tragedy of November 26 it was postponed. Unfortunately, Asif has suffered tremendous defamation in the media."

Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, said the tribunal had not arrived at a decision yet, and will convene again. Gupte, a member of the tribunal, said they will hold internal discussions soon but did not reveal a time-frame for a possible verdict.

Asif had tested positive for nandrolone during the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008 and his B sample also returned positive though there was a difference in the level of nandrolone in the two readings. Earlier this week, he was released by his franchise, the Delhi Daredevils, following a request by the fast bowler on personal grounds. Asif has been suspended from all forms of the game pending the result of the IPL inquiry by the Pakistan board, which is also investigating his detention at Dubai airport last year for possessing opium.

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/story/387666.html

[WicketView]

The Mohammad Asif saga: No decision taken after Asif's dope hearing

Nagraj Gollapudi

January 24, 2009
 

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, has told the IPL drugs tribunal that the presence of nandrolone in his dope test during the tournament's inaugural edition was the result of using eye drops which contained the banned substance. A hearing took place today in Mumbai, but the tribunal will meet again before reaching a decision.

Asif told the tribunal - comprising Sunil Gavaskar, Dr Ravi Bapat and lawyer Shirish Gupte - that he was unaware Keratyl, the eye drops he used to treat a painful and inflamed eye, contained nandrolone and never imagined it could disrupt his career in such a "terrible" way.

"The drops elevated his nandrolone level marginally and he played cricket with that painful eye and consequently failed a dope test in the IPL," Dr Michael Graham, a sports medicine expert told Cricinfo. Graham has been working on Asif's case from the day the Pakistan fast bowler's B sample was found positive last July, and was with his client for the hearing along with lawyer Shahid Karim.

Asif and his team arrived at 10.45am at the BCCI headquarters, and proceedings began half an hour past noon. The hearing, which lasted nearly two hours, was held amid tight security, since local political parties had issued a warning against the entry of Pakistan nationals in the city following the terrorists attacks in November last year.

Asif did not face the media contingent - eagerly waiting at the entrance - following the hearing, but Graham said his client wanted to apologise to everyone, including his country, the IPL and the media. "He had no knowledge that the drops contained a prohibited substance," he said. "He is so upset that the treatment has caused such a catastrophe to his cricketing career." Graham also hoped the tribunal would act wisely. "We pray for leniency but the ultimate decision is with the tribunal. There are intelligent individuals on it. They understand any result they give could have adverse effect on his career."

This was Asif's second appearance before the tribunal. The first was on October 11, where after lengthy discussions between the two parties the case was adjourned. November 29 was the date set for the next hearing, which got delayed following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Graham said the postponement had caused further misery for Asif. "No evidence was presented before today. It was all legal arguments because we never got an opportunity to present our case earlier as the hearing was adjourned. We had all the paper work done and we were prepared but due to the terrible tragedy of November 26 it was postponed. Unfortunately, Asif has suffered tremendous defamation in the media."

Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, said the tribunal had not arrived at a decision yet, and will convene again. Gupte, a member of the tribunal, said they will hold internal discussions soon but did not reveal a time-frame for a possible verdict.

Asif had tested positive for nandrolone during the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008 and his B sample also returned positive though there was a difference in the level of nandrolone in the two readings. Earlier this week, he was released by his franchise, the Delhi Daredevils, following a request by the fast bowler on personal grounds. Asif has been suspended from all forms of the game pending the result of the IPL inquiry by the Pakistan board, which is also investigating his detention at Dubai airport last year for possessing opium.

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/story/387666.html

So, is his story believable  .... any doctors to comment on it?

[dextrous]

Yes, why not, after all Warne got pills from grandma. Does the cocaine also come throhg the eyedrop?

[WicketView]

Yes, why not, after all Warne got pills from grandma. Does the cocaine also come throhg the eyedrop?

If you are carrying your eyedrops (which have cocaine) in your pocket, and you sit on it, break the bottle then I guess it could also reach your wallet. (Stretching my imagination here)

[kban1]

Asif banned for one year by IPL

Cricinfo staff

February 11, 2009

 
Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been banned for one year by the IPL for testing positive for steroids during the league's inaugural edition in 2008. The ban runs till September 21, 2009, back-dated to last September when the IPL imposed a suspension on him. Asif has already been released by his IPL team, the Delhi Daredevils, after a mutual agreement earlier this year and for now the bowler remains suspended by the Pakistan board as well.

"Mohammad Asif was found guilty by the IPL Drug Tribunal in as much as a prohibited substance namely Nandrolone was found in the urine sample extracted from the player during the support period and the match played on May 30th 2008 between the Delhi Daredevils and the Rajasthan Royals at Mumbai," said a statement from the IPL's three-man drugs tribunal.

"The year's ineligibility for Mohammad Asif will be from September 22, 2008, as that was the date when the Indian Premier League had imposed the suspension order, post which the cricketer has not been allowed to play any match."

Asif had appealed against the findings of the drugs test, mostly on the basis that there was a difference in readings of the levels of nandrolone between two samples of his that were tested. The appeal was delayed several times, before finally he arrived in Delhi in January this year.

He subsequently told the tribunal investigating his case that his nandrolone levels had been raised by the use of eye drops that contained the substance, something he was unaware of. He had been using Keratyl to treat a painful and inflamed eye. At the same time Asif was released by the Delhi Daredevils and remained hopeful that the tribunal would clear him of any wrongdoing.

In a statement, the ICC confirmed it had been notified about the IPL tribunal decision though said it would only make further comment after considering "the written reasons for the decision in the matter." It reiterated its expectation that all members observe the ban and that Asif will not be available to play until the ban has been completed.

Though he has been punished, the verdict will finally bring some kind of closure to a traumatic time for an increasingly troubled Asif. Ijaz Butt, chairman PCB, told reporters after the decision that a way back for Asif was now open. "After the ban is lifted, we will definately consider Asif for the national team depending on his fitness."

Asif is, however, still embroiled in another mess after being detained at Dubai airport last year for possessing opium, a case which the PCB is still investigating. But the signs from that investigation have been promising: if at all he is punished, it is likely to be a financial fine and a retrospective ban for a few matches. The board's internal committee will conclude its case, Butt said, at the end of the month.

There will be relief for the bowler though, because for the first time in almost a year, he can begin to think about playing some cricket. His last appearance for Pakistan was in April 2008 and the period preceding that had seen him suffering from a long-standing elbow complaint.

Asif's brief international career has already been blighted by such scandals. The events of 2008 came after he first tested positive for nandrolone in 2006, during internal tests conducted by the PCB. That result forced him to pull out of the 2006 Champions Trophy, alongside Shoaib Akhtar, who also tested positive. Even then Asif had pleaded ignorance over the substances he was using and though he was initially banned for a year, that punishment was scrapped on appeal.

The latest ban still means, however, that Pakistan will miss him during a host of upcoming assignments: the ODI series against Australia, the Twenty20 World Cup and a tour to Sri Lanka. He is likely, however, to be back in time for Pakistan's year-end visit to Australia.

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/iplarchive/content/current/story/388376.html