Woolmer to appear before anti-doping tribunal tomorrow

Lahore, Oct 31 (UNI) Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, along with physiotherapist Darren Lifsun and trainer Murray Stevenson, will appear before the three-member PCB Anti-Doping Tribunal here tomorrow.

Earlier on Friday, tainted Pakistan pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif had recorded their statements at the tribunal which is probing a doping scandal involving the bowlers.

Barrister Shahid Hamid chairs the tribunal which includes former captain Intikhab Alam and medical expert Waqar Ahmed.

After Friday's hearing, in which both the players were cross-examined, Barrister Hamid said that the tribunal wanted to hear other versions of the story from the coach, physio and the trainer, without which it would be tough to arrive at a conclusion.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sources, both the players accepted the dope results and decided not to challenge the result of their positive test for Nandrolone carried out in a World Anti-Doping Agency laboratory in Kuala Lumpur. Sports medicine experts Dr Javed Akram and Dr Syed Abass Raza also attended the hearing to assist the tribunal.

''Tomorrow, the coach, physiotherapist and the trainer will record their statement and once that's done, the tribunal would finalise its recommendations by November 2,'' a PCB official said.

''The board is keen to deal with the issue without wasting time and the tribunal would submit its report once they are through the process,'' he added.

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