Pak 'vindicated' in Akhtar, Asif doping case

KARACHI: Pakistani cricket chiefs said on Monday they had been vindicated after international sport's top court dismissed an appeal against reprieves for Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in a doping case.   

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) based in Lausanne, Switzerland, said on Monday that the challenge by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) did not come under its jurisdiction.   

New ball pair Akhtar and Asif tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in internal Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tests last year and were banned for two years and one year respectively in November. A month later, both were controversially reinstated by a Pakistani appellate committee, prompting the WADA appeal. 

"The ruling by the CAS obviously shows that the procedure adopted by us was correct and justified," said PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf. "When we told the news to Akhtar and Asif both were very happy and relieved and said their innocence was proved," he said by telephone from Glasgow, where Pakistan are set to play a one-day international against India. "We followed the rules and regulations and that is why we have won this case. The PCB's policy has been proven correct and we are satisfied by this," he added.   

Ashraf said the PCB is now fully in line with the anti-doping body's rules. "Our new doping policy complies with WADA and we have strict rules on that," Ashraf said.    "The important thing about this case was that players always said they took protein susbstances unknowingly and this decision exonerates them."   

The CAS said in a statement that it had reached the conclusion "with some considerable regret." The court said it found that the PCB provides no right of appeal to the CAS. Furthermore, the International Cricket Council's code did not contain any rules that obliged the Pakistani board to allow such appeals, it added.   

"We feel it exonerates the two fast bowlers and vindicates our stance," PCB spokesman Ashan Malik said. "We did our best and were convinced that the matter was closed after the appeal committee exonerated the players. We feel the latest ruling vindicates our stance," said Malik.   

Both Akhtar and Asif missed this year's World Cup held in the Caribbean due to injury but are among the 15-man squad which will face India in Glasgow on Tuesday.