World drug body appeals against Pakistan dope ban u-turn

KARACHI, Dec 22, 2006 (AFP) - The World Anti-Doping Agency said Friday it has filed an appeal against Pakistan's decision to lift doping bans on fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif.

Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year in November after they tested positive for a banned steroid. Both won their appeals and the bans were overturned by a committee headed by a retired judge earlier this month.

“WADA has filed an appeal against the decision of lifting of bans against Akhtar and Asif in the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) in Lausanne, (Switzerland),” the agency's media manager Frederic Donze said in an email.

Donze said appealing against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decision was WADA's right.

“WADA has exercised its independent right to appeal, provided in the World Anti-Doping Code, to the CAS against the PCB's appeal panel decision to overturn the sports sanctions of two athletes who recently tested positive for performance enhancing drugs,” said Donze.