World doping body challenges Shoaib, Asif verdict
From Zeeshan Mirza

KARACHI—The World Anti-Doping Agency said it has filed an appeal against Pakistan’s decision to lift doping bans on fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif.
Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year in November after they tested positive for a banned steroid. Both won their appeals and the bans were overturned by a committee headed by a retired judge earlier this month.
“WADA has filed an appeal against the decision of lifting of bans against Akhtar and Asif in the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) in Lausanne, (Switzerland),” the agency’s media manager Frederic Donze said in an email on Friday.
Donze said appealing against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decision was WADA’s right.
“WADA has exercised its independent right to appeal, provided in the World Anti-Doping Code, to the CAS against the PCB’s appeal panel decision to overturn the sports sanctions of two athletes who recently tested positive for performance enhancing drugs,” said Donze.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), which hailed the bans and termed their overturning as inconsistent with PCB policy, had backed WADA’s decision to challenge the decision.
“WADA has determined that it has the right — and the duty — to appeal in the circumstances in the interest of doping-free sport and the uniform application of the code in all sports and for the protection of athletes,” Donze added.
There was no immediate reaction from the PCB but its chairman has previously said that he regards the matter as closed.
However the WADA appeal may keep Akhtar and Asif out of Pakistan’s tour of South Africa next month and the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. Both have been named in Pakistan’s preliminary squad for South Africa.
Donze said it would be up to the ICC to decide whether they could still play in international matches “since it relates to eligibility rules in cricket”.