Pakistan's Shoaib, Asif appear before drugs tribunal

KARACHI, Oct. 21 (Reuters) Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif today appeared before a tribunal which will recommend if they are to be penalised for testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

The tribunal, including former test captain Intikhab Alam and barrister Shahid Hamid, will report its findings in two weeks' time to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Shoaib and Asif were recalled from the Champions Trophy in India on Monday after they tested positive in the internal dope tests carried out by the PCB before the tournament.

Under the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-doping regulations if a player tests positive in a tourament he faces an immediate ban of two years for a first violation.

''The tribunal met for some three hours and both of them were questioned for an hour after which they left and the members carried on their deliberations,'' a board spokesman told Reuters.

''The tribunal is expected to meet again on the 26th,'' he added.

Dr Nasim Ashraf, the PCB Chairman, told reporters that the board would implement the recommendations of the tribunal and would make the outcome public.

''We will not be taking any popular decision under pressure from anyone. We will take a correct decision. The World Cup is important for us but more important is the image of the country. We will act impartially and fairly,'' Ashraf said.

FAIR CHANCE He, however, made it clear that the players would be given a fair chance to defend themselves.

''A thorough independent investigation is being carried out.

They have been accused of testing positive but we don't know if they took it inadvertently or intentionally.'' The PCB chief said the board had fulfilled its first responsibility by immediately calling back the players and making public the A sample reports.

''The players can now bring anyone before the tribunal in defence,'' he said.

REUTERS PM DS1515