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| Pakistan pair fail doping tests | Pakistan pair fail doping tests |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan have withdrawn fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from the Champions Trophy in India after testing positive for nandrolone. | Pakistan have withdrawn fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from the Champions Trophy in India after testing positive for nandrolone. |
| The tests were carried out by the Pakistan Cricket Board three weeks ago and showed positive results for the performance-enhancing steroid. | The tests were carried out by the Pakistan Cricket Board three weeks ago and showed positive results for the performance-enhancing steroid. |
| Both cricketers face bans of up to two years if a second test confirms the positive result. | |
| Pakistan are due to begin their campaign against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. | |
| "They have tested positive for using nandrolone, which is aperformance enhancing anabolic steroid," Saleem Altaf, directorof cricket operations of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said. | |
| I have never come across anything like this in my life.... The timing is not great, but if it's going to happen it happens Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer | |
| "We have asked for a second test (B sample). But for themoment they have been suspended and are being recalled fromIndia. | |
| "Under the ICC anti-doping rules the punishment for a firstviolation is two years. We don't have our own rules on suchmatters and might follow the ICC regulations." | |
| The Pakistan team cancelled their scheduled morning training session following the news. | The Pakistan team cancelled their scheduled morning training session following the news. |
| Coach Bob Woolmer said: "What was my initial reaction? Disappointment. | |
| "I have never come across anything like this in my life.... The timing is not great, but if it's going to happen it happens." | |
| Mohammad Sami, Shahid Nazir and Yasir Arafat were being discussed as possible replacements | |
| The International Cricket Council is also conducting random doping tests during the eight-nation Champions Trophy, ranked second only to the World Cup among the sport's limited-overs events. | The International Cricket Council is also conducting random doping tests during the eight-nation Champions Trophy, ranked second only to the World Cup among the sport's limited-overs events. |
| We (the ICC) take a zero tolerance approach to doping in cricket. We are a signatory to the World Anti Doping Agency code ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed | |
| But chief executive Malcolm Speed said it would be the PCB who would deal with the matter as they had carried out the testing before the tournament began. | But chief executive Malcolm Speed said it would be the PCB who would deal with the matter as they had carried out the testing before the tournament began. |
| Speed told BBC Five Live: "We (the ICC) take a zero tolerance approach to doping in cricket. We are a signatory to the World Anti Doping Agency code. | Speed told BBC Five Live: "We (the ICC) take a zero tolerance approach to doping in cricket. We are a signatory to the World Anti Doping Agency code. |
| "It is very disappointing this has happened, it is very disappointing for these players but we will get to the bottom of it in the next day or so." | "It is very disappointing this has happened, it is very disappointing for these players but we will get to the bottom of it in the next day or so." |
| Shoaib and Asif have both recently returned to action after spending most of the summer injured. | Shoaib and Asif have both recently returned to action after spending most of the summer injured. |
| Shoaib, 31, underwent a double knee operation in February and 23-year-old Asif has been struggling with an elbow injury. | Shoaib, 31, underwent a double knee operation in February and 23-year-old Asif has been struggling with an elbow injury. |
| Drugs in sport have become a huge issue but Speed said cricket did not have a worrying problem with performance-enhancing or recreational drugs. | Drugs in sport have become a huge issue but Speed said cricket did not have a worrying problem with performance-enhancing or recreational drugs. |
| He added: "Generally cricket has been considered a low-risk sport. The risk for cricket has always been a player who is injured taking a substance inadvisedly to come back quickly from injury." | He added: "Generally cricket has been considered a low-risk sport. The risk for cricket has always been a player who is injured taking a substance inadvisedly to come back quickly from injury." |
| Australia spinner Shane Warne was banned from cricket for a year in 2003 for testing positive for two separate diuretics, hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride. | Australia spinner Shane Warne was banned from cricket for a year in 2003 for testing positive for two separate diuretics, hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride. |
| The latest incident comes after a torrid six weeks for Pakistan Cricket. | The latest incident comes after a torrid six weeks for Pakistan Cricket. |
| In August, Pakistan forfeited The Oval Test in a row over alleged ball-tampering and this led to captain Inzamam-ul-Haq being banned for four games for bringing the game into disrepute. | In August, Pakistan forfeited The Oval Test in a row over alleged ball-tampering and this led to captain Inzamam-ul-Haq being banned for four games for bringing the game into disrepute. |
| Tour manager Zaheer Abbas was relieved of his duties. Inzamam's replacement for the Champions Trophy, Younis Khan, initially refused to lead the side, saying he did not want to be a "dummy" captain. | Tour manager Zaheer Abbas was relieved of his duties. Inzamam's replacement for the Champions Trophy, Younis Khan, initially refused to lead the side, saying he did not want to be a "dummy" captain. |
| Former PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan then quit the next day because of his decision and his replacement Nasim Ashraf reinstated Younis as skipper. | Former PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan then quit the next day because of his decision and his replacement Nasim Ashraf reinstated Younis as skipper. |