ICC backs WADA's appeal against exonerating Shoaib, Asif

Dubai, Dec 18 (UNI) The International Cricket Council (ICC) today endorsed the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) decision to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the lifting of the bans on Pakistan players Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif.

''WADA wishes to appeal against the decision reached by the Pakistan Cricket Board Anti-Doping Appeals Committee (PCB ADAC). The ICC acknowledges this position and, at the same time, reiterates its commitment to the WADA Code,'' said ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed.

''Our lawyers have examined the finding of the PCB ADAC and do not believe the ICC has a right to appeal, but we will cooperate with WADA and provide it with any assistance it requires, he added.

The two players, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif, tested positive for a banned substance in an internal PCB drug test prior to this year's ICC Champions Trophy.

A hearing convened by the PCB banned them for two years and one year respectively before the PCB ADAC overturned the bans.

Speed said the ICC was committed to root out the problem from cricket and announced the inclusion of testing in the warm-up period for the World Cup next year.

''We have shown our commitment to the cause by signing the WADA Code this year and we will continue to show that commitment in the future.

''One way in which we will do that is by extending the scope of our testing to include target testing in the warm-up period ahead of our next event, the ICC Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean,'' he said.

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