Pakistan unfazed over WADA challenge to doping bans lift

Cricket: KARACHI, Pakistan, Dec 16, 2006 (AFP) - Pakistan cricket authorities Saturday seemed unfazed by the World Anti-Doping Agency decision to challenge the lifting of bans on pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year after they tested positive for banned steroid nandrolone last month but later an appeals committee overturned the bans.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chairman Dick Pound Friday announced that the agency would take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Pakistan cricket chief did not comment on the WADA decision, saying the matter was closed.

"We have no comments to make on the decision of WADA and as far as Pakistan is concerned the matter is closed," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters.

Pound said the PCB did not follow the anti-doping code and the players did not ask for further tests.

"The two players tested positive. They have not even asked for the B samples to be analysed, so they accept the result (of the initial tests) and the PCB simply did not apply the code," Pound told the BBC. Pound criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for being undecided over challenging the overturn of the ban.

"The ICC doesn't seem to be entirely clear which way it wants to go, so rather than wait and possibly have the thing fall between stools, we're going to exercise our responsibility under the code. We do not think the proper result has been achieved to date," Pound was quoted as saying.

Pound said he would urge the CAS to decide the matter urgently.

"That would be something we would bring to the attention of CAS to urge them to deal with the matter as expeditiously as possible but these things have to take their course," Pound said.

The ban overturn has paved way for the Pakistani pair to feature in next year's World Cup in the West Indies.

The 31-year-old Akhtar is featuring in a domestic four-day match while Asif is tipped to play in the Twenty 20 championship starting here from December 21.