Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif appeared before an Indian Premier League tribunal on Saturday to defend charges over a failed dope test, officials said. Asif, 26, tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone during the opening season of the IPL's Twenty20 tournament last year, in which he turned out for the Delhi Daredevils franchise.
A three-member IPL drugs tribunal, which heard Asif and his representatives for three hours, deferred a decision on the fast bowler's fate until an unspecified later date. "The hearing is over, but no decision has been taken," IPL commissioner Lalit Modi told local media. "The tribunal will meet again to decide." The IPL tribunal comprised former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, lawyer Shirish Gupte and medical specialist Ravi Bapat.
Asif was assisted at the hearing by Pakistani lawyer Shahid Karim and London-based doctor Michael Graham. Graham attributed Asif's failed test to a new eye drop, Keratyl, which the bowler took for an inflamed eye without knowing the medicine contained nandrolone. "Asif told the tribunal he took the eye drop, but did not know it contained nandrolone," Graham told AFP.
"I can say with authority that the drops elevated his nandrolone level marginally. Asif has apologised to the IPL. It was a genuine mistake." The fast bowler earlier this week sought voluntary release from his 650,000-dollar-a-year contract with the Delhi Daredevils even though he had two years left with the team. The Pakistan Cricket Board has suspended Asif from official cricket pending a decision by the IPL tribunal.