Asif and Akhtar Positive for doping!

[Kal-El]

This is great news for Pakistan cricket with their 2 strike bowlers back! SAF and WC here we come !

Yes, who'd want to do a silly thing like follow the rules...

 

[yashved]

They should have thought before the ban was imposed. Once imposed, ban should not be lifted like this....

 

[nightprowler10]

I just read the news on Cricinfo, and even though I'm disappointed by the decision made, I think it was the right one considering the facts presented. I think PCB screwed up royal by not following the proper guidelines in the first place, and it makes sense to me how the committee would decide they were both innocent of the charges. Personally, I think a bit of malice may have been invloved from at least Akhtar's part, taking advantage of the fact that PCB guidelines didn't technically ban the substance in question.

Either way, they both got off, and I really don't think I'll watch either one play with awe and respect like I used to. I may have if they served their sentence, but not now.

 

[Gunner786]

i dont think anyone here has a right to judge them

where were you all when shane warne got off lightly even though his case was much worse than these 2

 

[nightprowler10]

shane warne got off lightly even though his case was much worse than these 2

That's quite debatable. And I'm pretty there was an over reaction when Warne got banned from both sides.

 

[Kal-El]

i dont think anyone here has a right to judge them

where were you all when shane warne got off lightly even though his case was much worse than these 2

Yes taking a diuretic compared to taking a steroid, HOW DARE HE!!! I mean there was absolutely no proof he took a steroid but of course it was MUCH worse than Akhtar and Asif actually taking them and admitting it. Next you'll be saying punching someone on the shoulder is worse than killing them.

I think PCB screwed up royal by not following the proper guidelines in the first place

What an INCREDIBLE series of events, who would've thought this would happen!

 

[nightprowler10]

Yes taking a diuretic compared to taking a steroid, HOW DARE HE!!! I mean there was absolutely no proof he took a steroid but of course it was MUCH worse than Akhtar and Asif actually taking them and admitting it. Next you'll be saying punching someone on the shoulder is worse than killing them.

Well actually from what I'm told the diuretic Warne took was a masking agent. Going by that we can't really be 100% sure that he didn't take steroids. The fact that he healed surprisingly fast from his shoulder injury doesn't help his cause either. Anyway, I don't know enough about these things to judge Warne.

 

[Kal-El]

Well actually from what I'm told the diuretic Warne took was a masking agent. Going by that we can't really be 100% sure that he didn't take steroids. The fact that he healed surprisingly fast from his shoulder injury doesn't help his cause either. Anyway, I don't know enough about these things to judge Warne.

Indeed, but you can't PROVE it beyond reasonable doubt. Whereas Akhtar and Asif DID take steroids. Yet Warne got suspended while the other two didn't, amazing coincidence...

 

[brad352]

shane warne got off lightly even though his case was much worse than these 2

How on earth can his case be worse- Warne tested positive to a diuretic and was given a year rather than the full two as in itself the drug has no performance-enhancing properties, there was no evidence of it being used to mask steroid use and medical opinion stated that steroids would not have enhanced Warne's recovery from his shoulder injury. These two cheats took nandrolone, a steroid, tested positive and their defence was... oh we didn't know. In turn the pathetic board took their opportunity to impose some temporary penalties for a public show and then subsequently upheld this defence, which is universally recognised as not being a defence at all, and get their players back in time for the World Cup.

To summarise-
Warne, masking agent, no evidence of or logical basis for steroid use. Defence: didn't know what he was taking. 1 year
Akhtar/Asif, proven steroid use. Defence: didn't know what they were taking. Nothing

It's a disgrace to international cricket, blatant bias on behalf of the PCB and it's obvious to any non-biased observer that it's vital that the toothless ICC actually steps in for once to right this farce.

 

[nightprowler10]

What an INCREDIBLE series of events, who would've thought this would happen!

Not sure if that was an attack towards me, but its not the first time PCB screwed things up in such a manner. And if they were trying to cover it up, why would they test them in the first place. I'm pretty sure the ICC didn't require them to.

 

[Kal-El]

Not sure if that was an attack towards me, but its not the first time PCB screwed things up in such a manner. And if they were trying to cover it up, why would they test them in the first place. I'm pretty sure the ICC didn't require them to.

Wasn't a go at you, was a go at the PCB. Corrupt cheating *******s they are.

 

[nightprowler10]

Indeed, but you can't PROVE it beyond reasonable doubt. Whereas Akhtar and Asif DID take steroids. Yet Warne got suspended while the other two didn't, amazing coincidence...

Not that I'm saying that Asif and Akhtar are innocent, but the PCB CAN'T ban the two pacers for taking a substance that their guidelines did not prohibit. I seriously doubt that the board went back and actually changed the guidelines.

 

[brad352]

Not sure if that was an attack towards me, but its not the first time PCB screwed things up in such a manner. And if they were trying to cover it up, why would they test them in the first place. I'm pretty sure the ICC didn't require them to.

Pretty sure it was a comment on the board rather than anything directed at you. As for the testing- just before the Champions Trophy, a tournament where a positive drug test would draw mandatory penalties, the PCB decides to hold its first ever drug tests. Of course players test positive, allowing the PCB to set its own arbitrary penalties, or lack thereof. You'd have a reasonable argument for saying it was more than a little conveniently done- not that it matters really, letting them off without any basis is bad enough even if the tests were done in good faith.

EDIT: from the article linked last page:
"Since the tests were conducted out of competition, any reservations from the ICC or Wada will not affect players." (Nasim Ashraf) That'd be the basis for your testing before the tournament right there

Not that I'm saying that Asif and Akhtar are innocent, but the PCB CAN'T ban the two pacers for taking a substance that their guidelines did not prohibit. I seriously doubt that the board went back and actually changed the guidelines.

Surely as members of the ICC they're responsible for following their drug code.

 

[Kelp]

I'm sure Mohammad Asif didnt even know what steroids were before this incident, he was quite uneducated and didnt know better, the drugs were probably given to him by an unlicensed local doctor; im disappointed with Shoaib Akhtar though, he shouldve known better. I support the removal of the ban from Asif, I cant say the same about Shoaib, i believe his ban should have been maintained if not increased.

 

[nightprowler10]

To summarise-
Warne, masking agent, no evidence of or logical basis for steroid use. Defence: didn't know what he was taking. 1 year
Akhtar/Asif, proven steroid use. Defence: didn't know what they were taking. Nothing

They didn't quite say they didn't know what they were taking, from what the report on Cricinfo says at least.