Doctor vouches for Shoaib's innocence, insists pacer never doped

Lahore, Oct 18 (UNI) As Shoaib Akhtar battles to save his career after being hit by the doping scandal, a doctor claiming close association with the 'Rawalpindi Express' has vouched for the mercurial speedster's innocence.

According to a report in 'The News', Dr Tauseef Razzaq, who claims to be a close confidante of Shoaib, said the pacer has never knowingly taken any performance enhancing drug but may have been accidentally administered the banned nandrolone during his rehabilitation after the knee surgery earlier this year.

''Those herbal medicines could have been sprayed with the steroid to make them effective,'' Dr Razzaq was quoted by the daily as saying.

The doctor claims that his association with the star player was such that he would have known if Shoaib had ever taken banned drugs.

''I would have known if Shoaib was into such things because he never hides anything from me,'' he said as he tried to defend the beleagured bowler, who -- along with Mohammad Asif -- was withdrawn from Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad following revelations of the duo testing positive for nandrolone in tests conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Meanwhile, the PCB continues to promise a thorough investigation into the latest scandal that has rocked Pakistan cricket and board chief Nasim Ashraf said strict action would be taken if the bowlers were found guilty.

''There is no tolerance for doping in Pakistan cricket,'' Dr Ashraf was quoted by 'The News' as saying.

However, the PCB chief said the players will be given a fair chance to explain themselves and promised to conduct another round of tests if the bowlers insisted.

''The players have the right to appeal. We have received a reconfirmation of the initial positive tests from Malaysia but if the players protest we can have another of their samples tested,'' he said.

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