More controversy for Asif

Mohammad Asif is expected to contest the result of his recently failed drugs test

Mohammad Asif’s lawyer has hinted at a possible appeal against a positive doping test as the Pakistan fast bowler bids to avoid a likely two-year ban from cricket.

Asif’s ‘B’ sample returned a positive result today, confirming the result of a sample taken from the 25-year-old following the Delhi Daredevils’ Indian Premier League semi-final defeat to Rajasthan Royals in May.

Asif’s lawyer Shahid Karim confirmed the results but claimed discrepancies between the ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples could form the basis of an appeal.

“We have just completed the test on the ‘B’ sample of Asif's urine which has come back positive,” Karim told cricketnirvana.com.

"But I can tell you that the quantity of nandrolone has varied which we can contest.”

Asif’s future is now in the hands of the IPL’s drugs tribunal, and a two-year ban is the most likely outcome under the International Cricket Council’s anti-doping code, which the IPL has adopted.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said the PCB would endorse any decision the IPL takes on Asif.

"Whatever decision the IPL takes, it would be construed as if the PCB had taken that decision,” Naghmi told CNN-IBN.

“This is because we are a part of WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency) and any decision taken by one country on a player is binding on all the countries.”

The drugs tribunal is comprised of former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar, leading doctor Ravi Bapat and lawyer Shirish Gupte.

"If he is awarded any sort of ban by the IPL drugs tribunal, then the PCB would take that ban as if the PCB had itself handed out the ban,” Naghmi added.

"Asif will not be eligible for play for Pakistan while the ban lasts."

If Asif does press ahead with an appeal, he will have to take his case to WADA.

"He has the right to appeal but not to the PCB or the IPL but to WADA,” Naghmi said. “It remains to be seen if he takes that course. But the first decision has to come from the IPL."

Today’s result is the latest in a series of controversies which have dogged Asif over the past two years.

The paceman also tested positive for nandrolone in 2006 during an out-of-competition test conducted by the PCB.

He was initially banned for two years but the sentence was overturned on appeal.

In June, Asif was detained at Dubai International Airport on suspicion of carrying drugs as he returned home to Pakistan after the IPL.

The charges were later dropped and he was deported. However, it is understood that the PCB are still looking into the incident.