Pak bodybuilding team for Doha Asiad flunks dope test

Lahore, Nov 28 (UNI) Pakistan has withdrawn from the bodybuilding competition of the Doha Asiad after it's three-member team flunked a dope test.

Quoting a Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation (PBF) official, 'The Nation' reported that the three bodybuilders -- Atif Anwar, Khalid Ali, Shoaib Zahoor -- were found positive in tests conducted on the instructions of the Asian Bodybuilding Federation.

The PBF received the reports from the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) laboratory at Malaysia and immediately decided against participating in the Asian Games which start December 1.

''To avoid an embarrassment at games, we have decided to pull out our bodybuilding team from the games,'' the PBF official said.

The official also stated that the punishment for the tainted trio will be decided after the Games conclusion on December 15.

The latest dope-setback comes close on the heels of Busan Asian Games gold medallist boxer Mehrulla Lassi and SAF Games gold medallist Faisal Karim being banned for life for testing positive for cannabis.

Earlier, cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif had to be called from the ICC Champions Trophy after the pace-duo tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.

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