Asif tested positive during IPL

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Prince-Farry

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Mohammad Asif has been confirmed as the player who tested positive for a banned substance during the Indian Premier League, the IPL has announced. The IPL, though, hasn't revealed the drug that was found in the sample that Asif, who played for the Delhi Daredevils, provided during random testing.

The IPL compared the result from the WADA-approved laboratory in Switzerland [that tested the samples] with the data collected by IDTM, the Sweden-based independent agency that organised the tests, and confirmed Asif as the player whose sample was positive.

The IPL medical committee then scruntinised the form filled by Asif prior to the test to verify but he had not applied for or been granted an exemption for the drug found in the sample. "It was also checked if Asif had applied for and was granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)," an IPL release said. "It was found that Asif had not applied for a TUE. A note in writing has been sent to the player and his home board and to the franchise on the findings."

"I am shocked and surprised because I was extra cautious and never used any banned substances," Asif told AFP. "I don't know what to do. I will decide the next course of action only after consultation with the PCB." Asif was detained in Dubai for possession of contraband drugs last month for 19 days and he is already the subject of a board inquiry into those events.

Reacting to the development, Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer, said that the board will take action according to their anti-doping policy. "We have gotten an email from the IPL confirming this. We have our own anti-doping policy which has an immediate suspension clause," he said. "We then set up a tribunal after that with a doctor, a lawyer and a Test cricketer to look into the matter. We have not yet suspended Asif but will take action according to our anti-doping policy."

Asif now has the right to request that his 'B' sample [supplied at the same time as the one that tested positive] be sent for analysis, which he and his representative can attend along with an IPL representative. Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, said the procedure will take about two weeks in case Asif sends his 'B' sample for testing.

If the 'B' sample also tests positive, the matter will be taken up by the IPL's drugs tribunal, comprising of Sunil Gavaskar, Dr Ravi Bapat (ex-Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences) and lawyer Shirish Gupte. The tribunal will study the issue and take a decision in accordance with the ICC's anti-doping code.

Asif played eight of Delhi's 15 matches in the IPL, and shared the new ball alongside Glenn McGrath. He split the webbing on his right hand during the tournament.

Asif, along with Shoaib Akhtar, had tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in PCB's internal tests ahead of the Champions Trophy. He was banned for one year, which was overturned on appeal. Asif also cleared a dope test in August 2007 ahead of the World Twenty20 in South Africa.
 
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