Sport - Sports : General

We don’t know if it’s nandrolone or not: PCB

Karachi: Though Mohammad Asif is widely believed to have tested positive for nandrolone during the Indian Premier League, the Pakistan Cricket Board has said it has not received any confirmation about the substance from the IPL authorities.

A spokesman of the PCB said they had received not received any information from the IPL officials or any other body about the substance.

“The mail sent to us by the IPL only informed us that Asif had tested positive. That is all. It does not mention which substance he tested positive for. And I don’t think they will declare the substance until his ‘B’ sample test is conducted and a conclusive report comes,” the spokesman said.

Asif’s lawyer Shahid Kazmi reportedly told an Indian channel on Thursday that the embattled pacer had tested positive for nandrolone during the IPL. However, when contacted he denied making such a comment.

“I have not mentioned nandrolone or any other substance because we have still not got a detailed report from the IPL about the first test,” he claimed.

Kazmi said the IPL committee had already sent them a reply to the request for the ‘B’ sample test and is expected to be carried out on July 28.

“We are not sure but Asif and myself might be required to be present for the ‘B’ sample test,” he said.

Kazmi said till his client had not yet decided on his future course of action if the ‘B’ sample test also came out positive. He also denied reports that Asif might challenge PCB’s decision to suspend him from all cricket activities till the case is decided by the IPL anti-drugs committee.

“We have discussed this but no decision has been taken to appeal against the suspension,” Kazmi said. “We remain confident that Asif will be cleared of doping charges because of certain issues related to the way the ‘A’ sample tests were carried out.” — PTI

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