PCB adopts zero level tolerance policy on drugs: Ashraf

Lahore, Mar 2 (UNI) In a desperate damage control excercise, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asserted that it was only the fourth board - affiliated with the ICC - which has been conducting dope testing of players regularly and carry a zero level tolerance policy against drugs.

''We have a zero tolerance policy against the use of drugs in the game. This act proves our sincerity towards anti-drug efforts,'' said PCB chief Nasim Ashraf.

He maintained that exclusion of the pace-duo of Shoiab Akhtar and Mohammed Asif from the Caribbean bound squad squad had nothing to do with the alleged charges against them for using perfomance-enhanced substance 'nandrolone' which earlier forced their exclusion from the ICC Champions Trophy last year.

'' Shoaib and Asif were ruled out from the World Cup not because of any fear of positive dope testing, but the decision was taken purely due to their fitness problems.'' he added The PCB chief was annoyed with the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Malcolm Speed for issuing a statement over the target dope testing during the World Cup, mainly in reference to Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

Mr Ashraf informed that he had written a letter to Mr Speed conveying his displeasure over the statement, adding, ''Speed's has hurt me quite a bit. He (Speed) had himself breached the ICC Code of Conduct by issuing that statement.'' ''The matter regarding Shoaib and Asif is subjudice since the WADA has challenged the acquittal of two players by the PCB in the Court of Arbitration in Sports, hence the statement of Speed in public is clearly against the rules,'' the PCB cheif mantained.

Mr Ashraf further said that the acquittal of pace-duo by the PCB was in accordance with the board's anti-doping policy and no other institution had any right to intervene in its internal affairs.

''The PCB would be monitoring the ICC policy, both on random and target basis, closely during the mega event and will not tolerate any discrimination in this connection.'' Without mentioning the names, The PCB chief criticised the statement of Australia's Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden aginst Shoaib and Asif over their doping tests, and asked the International cricket's governing body to take action against them as it also relates to a breach of ICC Code of Conduct.

''I don't want to mention the names of the players and their country but it is a fact that their statement causes embarrassment, so the ICC must take action against them,''he said.

Being unaware about the exclusion of Shoaib and Asif from the World Cup team, Australian batsman Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds had described as ''ludicrous'' the selection of drug-tainted fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

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