Shoaib Akhtar was banned for two years and Muhammad Asif for one year in November after they tested positive for a prohibited steroid. Both of the bowlers were announced innocent and bans were over turned by a committee lead by a former judge in first week of December. Both of the bowlers were called back from India just a day before the commencement of champions trophy in October.
Now WADA has filed a case against PCB’s behaviour with handling of this case. ‘WADA has filed am appeal against the decision of lifting me bans against Akhtar and Asif in the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) in Lausanne, Switzerland.’ said the agency’s media manager Frederic Donze.
Donze said that appealing against the decision of PCB is WADA’s right. He said, ‘WADA has determined that it has the right — and the duty — to appeal in the circumstances in the interest of doping-free sport and uniform application of the code in all sports and for the protection of athletes.’
The International Cricket Council (ICC), which had already objected PCB for their u-turn policy, has backed WADA’s decision to challenge the exoneration of the two bowlers.
Pakistan is one of those 186 countries who have signed the CopenHagen anti-doping treaty and Pakistan is now bound to abide by the rules set by WADA. Being a member of this international association, Pakistan will not be able to defend its bowlers easily.
Akhtar and Asif are included in the list of probable players for South African tour in January. Now there are chamber that WADA will not let them be inside the final team. PCB says that they have not get any official letter or warning from any organization yet.