WADA appeals against decision to clear Pakistan bowlers

LONDON, Feb 6 (Reuters) The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision by a Pakistan cricket tribunal to clear pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif of doping bans.

The Pakistan Cricket Board banned Shoaib for two years and Asif for one year last November after they tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone.

But they were cleared in the following month by a three-man tribunal which said the pair had successfully argued that they had taken supplements in the belief that they did not contain any prohibited substances.

In a statement on the CAS Web site (www.tas-cas.org) on Tuesday the Lausanne-based independent body said WADA had filed an appeal against the decision.

Under WADA's strict liability rules athletes are responsible for any substances they ingest.

Reuters SRS VP0250