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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/pakistan/6260498.stm
Court cannot rule on Pakistan duo
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled that it has no jurisdiction to reverse a decision to overturn Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif's drugs bans. The Pakistan pacemen were suspended for two years and a year respectively after testing positive for nandrolone.
But the Pakistan Cricket Board lifted the bans after the players claimed they had not knowingly taken the drug.
And the Lausanne-based court cannot get involved as the PCB does not recognise its authority.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) had hoped to have the suspensions upheld after appealing to CAS to interject.
The CAS has considered that it has no jurisdiction to decide the dispute
A statement from the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Wada chairman Dick Pound had told the BBC last December that the ICC - the game's governing body - was "a signatory to the anti-doping code" and that Pakistan, as a full member of the ICC, was bound by its rules.
But a statement from CAS read: "The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed the appeal filed by the World Anti-Doping Agency against the Pakistan Cricket Board Anti-Doping Appeals Committee dated 5 December 2006.
"The CAS has considered that it has no jurisdiction to decide the dispute between the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif."
Both players were in Pakistan's squad for Sunday's rain-ruined one-day match against Scotland, but could play against India in Glasgow on Tuesday.
And Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said the CAS ruling showed the procedures followed by them had been "correct and justified".
He continued: "We followed the rules and regulations and that is why we have won this case. The PCB's policy has been proven correct and we are satisfied by this.
"The important thing about this case was that players always said they took protein substances unknowingly and this decision exonerates them."
As a result of the CAS's findings, the ICC have now amended their code so that the PCB codes do contain a provision for an appeal to be made to the European court. In addition, the ICC can target test the relevant players while the appeal is pending up to 60 days prior to an ICC event.
SEE ALSO
Shoaib fit for games in Scotland
16 Jun 07 | Pakistan
ICC will 'target-test' for drugs
01 Mar 07 | Pakistan
Drugs row duo free for World Cup
04 Jan 07 | Pakistan
Shoaib/Asif case closed, says PCB
16 Dec 06 | Pakistan
Pakistan to face doping challenge
15 Dec 06 | Pakistan
Pakistan duo win drugs ban appeal
05 Dec 06 | Pakistan
Shoaib appeals against drugs ban
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Pakistan pair hit by doping bans
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RELATED BBC LINKS:
Your say on Pakistan cricket - 606
BBC Asian Network sport
BBC World Service - Urdu
RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Pakistan Cricket Board
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
One rule for some, another for others. Here's an Idea ICC, show some balls and invalidate any test that Pakistan field these two cheats.
Court cannot rule on Pakistan duo
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled that it has no jurisdiction to reverse a decision to overturn Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif's drugs bans. The Pakistan pacemen were suspended for two years and a year respectively after testing positive for nandrolone.
But the Pakistan Cricket Board lifted the bans after the players claimed they had not knowingly taken the drug.
And the Lausanne-based court cannot get involved as the PCB does not recognise its authority.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) had hoped to have the suspensions upheld after appealing to CAS to interject.
A statement from the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Wada chairman Dick Pound had told the BBC last December that the ICC - the game's governing body - was "a signatory to the anti-doping code" and that Pakistan, as a full member of the ICC, was bound by its rules.
But a statement from CAS read: "The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed the appeal filed by the World Anti-Doping Agency against the Pakistan Cricket Board Anti-Doping Appeals Committee dated 5 December 2006.
"The CAS has considered that it has no jurisdiction to decide the dispute between the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif."
Both players were in Pakistan's squad for Sunday's rain-ruined one-day match against Scotland, but could play against India in Glasgow on Tuesday.
And Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said the CAS ruling showed the procedures followed by them had been "correct and justified".
He continued: "We followed the rules and regulations and that is why we have won this case. The PCB's policy has been proven correct and we are satisfied by this.
"The important thing about this case was that players always said they took protein substances unknowingly and this decision exonerates them."
As a result of the CAS's findings, the ICC have now amended their code so that the PCB codes do contain a provision for an appeal to be made to the European court. In addition, the ICC can target test the relevant players while the appeal is pending up to 60 days prior to an ICC event.
Shoaib fit for games in Scotland
16 Jun 07 | Pakistan
ICC will 'target-test' for drugs
01 Mar 07 | Pakistan
Drugs row duo free for World Cup
04 Jan 07 | Pakistan
Shoaib/Asif case closed, says PCB
16 Dec 06 | Pakistan
Pakistan to face doping challenge
15 Dec 06 | Pakistan
Pakistan duo win drugs ban appeal
05 Dec 06 | Pakistan
Shoaib appeals against drugs ban
08 Nov 06 | Pakistan
Pakistan pair hit by doping bans
01 Nov 06 | Cricket
RELATED BBC LINKS:
Your say on Pakistan cricket - 606
BBC Asian Network sport
BBC World Service - Urdu
RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Pakistan Cricket Board
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
One rule for some, another for others. Here's an Idea ICC, show some balls and invalidate any test that Pakistan field these two cheats.
