Can the agency really interfere. since it was a step taken by PCB voluntarily.
PCB is blamed for all this mess and embarrasment. I mean, couldn’t they handle the whole thing in a better way rather than just imposing the ban. Why didn’t they listen to the players plus their doctors & attorneys at first place.
The World Anti-Doping Agency is to challenge Pakistan’s decision to lift bans on fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif
Wada chairman Dick Pound told BBC World Service Sport they would take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Shoaib and Asif were banned after testing positive for a banned steroid.
But an appeal panel later overturned the bans after ruling that neither player took the drug deliberately.
Wada is to contest the decision on the basis that the International Cricket Council is a signatory to the anti-doping code and Pakistan, as one of its full members, should therefore be subject to its provisions.
“The two players tested positive. They have not even asked for the B samples to be analysed, so they accept the result [of the initial tests] and the Pakistan Cricket Board simply did not apply the code,” said Pound.
He criticised the ICC for failing to take decisive action over the matter.
“The ICC doesn’t seem to be entirely clear which way it wants to go, so rather than wait and possibly have the thing fall between stools, we’re going to exercise our responsibility under the code - we do not think the proper result has been achieved to date.”
He continued: “If we are successful in this, I think it will be a matter of considerable embarrassment to the ICC that it did not act.”
On Wednesday, PCB chairman Dr Naseem Ashraf insisted the case was an “internal matter” and was now “over”.
But in response, Pound said: "Our job is to monitor compliance with the world anti-doping code which prohibits the substances the two cricketers took.
"In cases of that nature, there are sanctions that are meant to be applied and in our view they have been improperly applied.
“You cannot have in an anti-doping system an individual national federation purporting to act without regard to the rules of the international federation which has adopted the code.”
Shoaib was originally banned for two years and his younger team-mate for 12 months after traces of nandrolone were found in their samples, but a three-man panel upheld their appeals by a 2-1 majority.
Despite that, Dr Ashraf said Pakistan supported a zero tolerance policy towards drugs.
It is likely to take “months rather than weeks”, according to Pound, for the Court of Arbitration to rule on the matter, which would enable Shoaib and Asif to play in the World Cup in the West Indies next March, if selected.
“That would be something we would bring to the attention of CAS to urge them to deal with the matter as expeditiously as possible but these things have to take their course,” he added.
by that time they come up with a decision the world cup will be over hopefully,so no worries.but looks like akhtar and asif will be banned again as per wada rules.they were not tried under wada rules.
Wada is to contest the decision on the basis that the International Cricket Council is a signatory to the anti-doping code and Pakistan, as one of its full members, should therefore be subject to its provisions.
I don't know if Pakistan have to comply with WADA rules just because ICC is a signatory to the anti-doping code and Pakistan is a member of ICC.
Addionally I don't know if WADA will be able to take action against PCB. I remember Malcolm Speed telling the media couple of months ago (when the doping drama started) that since the tests on Asif and Akhtar were done by PCB therefore ICC would not be able to intervene if there is a decision in favor of the players. Even WADA would not be able to take any legal action against PCB or the players, if there is no direct agreement between PCB and WADA.
I think WADA can't do much in this matter. Naseem Ashraf has said already that both Shoaib and Asif will have to undergo repeat tests before the WC (because it's an ICC event) and their inclusion in the WC will depend very much on the result of that test. Since the WC squad must be finalised atleast 4-6 weeks (the names should reach ICC by then) before the main event it means both Shoaib and Asif will be asked by the PCB to have fresh tests no later than Janauary
^ Pakistan has to comply, eventually anyway. But not for now. WADA and ICC are still in the process of coming up with and enforcing anti doping policies, and then ICC has to get its members to all join in one by one. Its a long and tedious process, which was started only over a year ago and is still in its infant stages.
Kinda like making the first constitution of Pakistan which started work before time was time and completed in 1958.
WADA is out of its mind, tests were done internally, and not as a part of ICC event. Though, matter come out in public but it can be treated as Pakistan internal matter. Looking at cries from WADA, it seems like it was a good decision on the part of Asif and Shaoib on not taking B tests. Which mean, PCB or players themself can do their testings and once convinced that the level of the drugs is low enough to be considered no risk, then they could provide any test if required for ICC events, which is WC.
In my view, there is no risk or danger to these twos, and it is the right decision to keep them out of the selection for any ICC events (ODIs or Test matches) until it is confirmed that their blood samples are clear. Let WADA officials keep barking.
^^
You're right. This is PCB's internal matter. WADA must not be jumping into it.
If think about it, PCB gave others chance to talk about them. The first time when PCB found the issue, they could do a detailed hearing rather than just imposing a ban. They could include the players, doctors and attorneys etc. to come up with the better conclusion.
Now it all seems to be a drama where PCB is imposing a ban and then lifting it because players were proven innocent.