ICC’s anti-doping team to visit Pakistan

ICC’s anti-doping team to visit Pakistan
Karachi, Feb 7: A two-member team of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-doping commission will visit Pakistan next week to brief national cricketers and cricket officials about ICC's strict new regulations on the subject. The commission will arrive in Pakistan February 11. It will brief the players and officials about laws of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The commission would hold talks with WADA officials based in Pakistan. According to ICC’s new code of conduct, surprise dope tests could be conducted in any ICC-approved tournament. Pakistan cricket has suffered a lot in recent years because of doping scandals involving a couple of their leading cricketers. The country’s strike bowlers - Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif - tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone during the ICC Champions Trophy in 2006 in India. Asif once again tested positive for the same drug while featuring in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) last May. PCB officials say they have tightened anti-doping regulations and hope that such cases will not be repeated. (IANS)