Pakistan's Mohammad Asif fails IPL dope test
14 Jul 2008, 1952 Hrs

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New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today announced that Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif tested positive for a banned substance during random testing at the Indian Premier League.

The Indian Cricket Board has confirmed the player who was under the drug scanner during the IPL, is Mohammad Asif.

Asif, 25, played for the Delhi Daredevils team in the IPL, a lucrative Twenty20 tournament that ran from April 18-June 1 and featured the world's top players.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had been informed of Asif's positive test and it depended on the player if he wanted his 'B' sample to be tested, the statement said.

If Asif takes up the offer, the case will be referred to the IPL's three-member Drugs Tribunal that includes former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, once the results of the 'B' sample are known.

The lanky seamer faces a ban from future editions of the IPL and possible punishment from the Pakistan board if all tests go against him.

Asif was detained at Dubai airport for three weeks for possessing opium while returning from the IPL in June. But Dubai public prosecutors dropped the case citing "insignificance" and deported him to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has put the onus of taking action against Asif on the BCCI.

"The ICC is aware of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) from the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL)," ICC said in a statement.

The ICC said it had been informed of the positive dope test, speculated to be of a sub-continental fast bowler, by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory where the randomly collected samples were tested. (ANI)