Source: Asif career in jeopardy | espnstar.com
The paceman, who has lurched from one controversy to another, was immediately under suspicion after the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed they had been informed of an adverse analytical finding by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) laboratory which had conducted the tests in the IPL.
Those reports were confirmed by the IPL, although the substance for which Asif tested positive was not revealed.
"The Indian Premier League compared the result from the WADA-approved laboratory in Switzerland with the data collected by IDTM, the Sweden-based independent agency which organised the anti-dope testing in accordance with World Anti-Doping Agency standards, to confirm that the player in violation is Mohammad Asif," a statement from the IPL read.
"It was also checked if Mohammad Asif had applied for and was granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). It was found that Mohammad Asif had not applied for a TUE. A note in writing has been sent to the player and his home board and to the franchisee on the findings," the statement added.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah confirmed the player and Pakistan Cricket Board had been told of the test results.
"I have been informed by IPL commissioner Lalit Modi that the player who failed a dope test is Mohammad Asif," Shah said.
"The player has been informed. We have forwarded the report to the Pakistan Cricket Board."
Asif was at a loss to explain the findings.
"I am shocked and surprised because I was extra cautious and never used any banned substance," the 25-year-old told Times Now.
"I don't know what to do. I will decide the next course of action only after consultation with the PCB."
The PCB are likely to take a tough line, considering this is Asif's third instance of involvement with drugs.
He was initially suspended for one year just before the Champions Trophy in 2006 after testing positive for banned substance nandrolone, but that ban was quashed by a PCB appellate tribunal.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport then appealed that decision but was forced to dismiss the case "with some considerable regret" after it was decided they had no jurisdiction to intervene under PCB rules.
Last month, Asif was detained for close to three weeks by Dubai airport authorities on suspicion of carrying drugs. The charges were subsequently dropped and Asif was deported.
The positive test in the IPL leaves Asif facing the possibility of a life ban.
"It's very disappointing," said Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer.
"First the Dubai issue and now this. However, we will not show any leniency. We will take stern action against the player.
"The board will not provide any kind of help. He will have to fight the case on his own."
IPL chief operating officer Sundar Raman said Asif would first have to make a decision on whether his B sample should be tested before the IPL could take action.
"It's not a happy situation," said Raman.
"But having said that, the IPL follows a zero-tolerance policy towards doping.
"The drugs tribunal which has been set up will decide on the penalty based on whether the player wants his B sample tested or not."
The three-member tribunal consists of former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar, leading doctor Ravi Bapat and top lawyer Shirish Gupte.
Asif has the right to be present if his B sample is opened and tested. An IPL representative would also be in attendance.
Should that sample also prove positive, the IPL tribunal would deliberate the case, but their penalty would be restricted to the boundaries of the IPL.
The tribunal could also recommend further action to the PCB, while the Pakistani board are also free to pursue their own course of action.
The paceman, who has lurched from one controversy to another, was immediately under suspicion after the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed they had been informed of an adverse analytical finding by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) laboratory which had conducted the tests in the IPL.
Those reports were confirmed by the IPL, although the substance for which Asif tested positive was not revealed.
"The Indian Premier League compared the result from the WADA-approved laboratory in Switzerland with the data collected by IDTM, the Sweden-based independent agency which organised the anti-dope testing in accordance with World Anti-Doping Agency standards, to confirm that the player in violation is Mohammad Asif," a statement from the IPL read.
"It was also checked if Mohammad Asif had applied for and was granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). It was found that Mohammad Asif had not applied for a TUE. A note in writing has been sent to the player and his home board and to the franchisee on the findings," the statement added.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah confirmed the player and Pakistan Cricket Board had been told of the test results.
"I have been informed by IPL commissioner Lalit Modi that the player who failed a dope test is Mohammad Asif," Shah said.
"The player has been informed. We have forwarded the report to the Pakistan Cricket Board."
Asif was at a loss to explain the findings.
"I am shocked and surprised because I was extra cautious and never used any banned substance," the 25-year-old told Times Now.
"I don't know what to do. I will decide the next course of action only after consultation with the PCB."
The PCB are likely to take a tough line, considering this is Asif's third instance of involvement with drugs.
He was initially suspended for one year just before the Champions Trophy in 2006 after testing positive for banned substance nandrolone, but that ban was quashed by a PCB appellate tribunal.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport then appealed that decision but was forced to dismiss the case "with some considerable regret" after it was decided they had no jurisdiction to intervene under PCB rules.
Last month, Asif was detained for close to three weeks by Dubai airport authorities on suspicion of carrying drugs. The charges were subsequently dropped and Asif was deported.
The positive test in the IPL leaves Asif facing the possibility of a life ban.
"It's very disappointing," said Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB's chief operating officer.
"First the Dubai issue and now this. However, we will not show any leniency. We will take stern action against the player.
"The board will not provide any kind of help. He will have to fight the case on his own."
IPL chief operating officer Sundar Raman said Asif would first have to make a decision on whether his B sample should be tested before the IPL could take action.
"It's not a happy situation," said Raman.
"But having said that, the IPL follows a zero-tolerance policy towards doping.
"The drugs tribunal which has been set up will decide on the penalty based on whether the player wants his B sample tested or not."
The three-member tribunal consists of former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar, leading doctor Ravi Bapat and top lawyer Shirish Gupte.
Asif has the right to be present if his B sample is opened and tested. An IPL representative would also be in attendance.
Should that sample also prove positive, the IPL tribunal would deliberate the case, but their penalty would be restricted to the boundaries of the IPL.
The tribunal could also recommend further action to the PCB, while the Pakistani board are also free to pursue their own course of action.
