Asif's poor English saves him from longer ban!

Lahore, Nov 2 (UNI) While the PCB anti-doping commission took a strict stance against Shoaib Akhtar and slapped the enigmatic pacer a two-year ban, the three-member tribunal went soft on Mohammad Asif and the youngster has to thank his poor command over English for that.

The commission, in its much-anticipated report, observed that it's not clear whether Asif, who was banned for one year, had been present at any lecture or session with regard to the Anti Doping Regulations or list of prohibited substances and there are also doubts if he was at all handed over the WADA 2006 list of prohibited substances and WADA Athlete Guide prior to the departure of the team for the England tour in August 2006.

''We have ourselves noticed during the hearings that Mohammad Asif's command of English is limited and we are clear that he could not possibly have understood the WADA publications without someone helping him to understand their contents. No such guidance or counselling was provided. He has stated before us that he is unable to explain why his urine sample has tested positive for the nandrolone metabolite,'' the commission observed.

''He was amongst those who gave his sample on the very first date of sample taking...and did not try and delay the sample taking,'' they said.

Elsewhere, the commission sympathises with Asif and blamed the fiasco mostly on his ignorance and humble background.

''When he was in UK in June 2006 along with the Pakistan Team he was given an injection for his elbow injury which did not work.

Thereafter, he received 2 more injections during his stay there.

After his return, he had been using nutritional supplements viz Promax-50. This was in the knowledge of the Team Physiotherapist Mr.

Darryn Lifson who was also present when he was given the 3 injections in UK.

''He lived in a village and was unaware of the effects of the injections and nutritional supplements that he had taken,'' the trio argued.

The same commission, however, sounded harsh While handing out the ban order on Shoaib Akhtar, rubbishing the pacer's version that he could not suspect that he had been using prohibited substances.

The commission quoted from Shoaib's written submission before the three-member body to point out to his eventful past, plagued by injury and controversy.

MORE UNI XC AY PK KP1630