Failed dope test: PCB to appeal against Yasir Shah’s suspension by ICC

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday decided against requesting for a ‘B’ sample of Yasir Shah’s dope test and his admission that he did take his wife’s blood pressure medicine.

The PCB will now appeal against the bowler’s suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The leg-spinner was randomly selected for a dope test on November 13, 2015, and was tested positive due to the presence of the banned substance called chlortalidone, which appears in the World Anti-Doping Agency list of banned substances.

Under the ICC’s anti-doping code, failed drug tests result in a four year ban, unless the offence is deemed unintentional which could lead to reduced suspension.

But the PCB’s decision to opt against a ‘B’ sample effectively means Shah could face a ban of up to two years.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said the board’s medical panel had met on Monday after receiving more details from the ICC on Shah’s case, and had decided not to request a second urine sample.

“We have decided not to go for the ‘B’ sample test, and instead will appeal with the ICC,” he told AFP.

According to the ICC’s Anti-Doping Code, a suspended player can request for an unopened and untested B sample in order to “confirm the ICC’s findings in respect of the A Sample”. Both samples are taken from the player at the same time, which in Shah’s case was during the Pakistan-England series in November last year.

A suspended player also has the right to request for a hearing within a 14-day deadline. A failure to do so means the player has “admitted that he/she has committed the anti-doping rule violation(s) specified in the Notice of Charge” and to have accepted the consequences specified in that Notice of Charge.

According to a source in the PCB, Pakistan on Monday had sought more details from the ICC after the submission of the dope test report and notice of charge.

The chairman of the PCB Executive Committee, Najam Sethi, had earlier confirmed that a comprehensive report of Shah’s case would be submitted to the ICC.

“We are trying our best to protect Shah from a long ban,” said Sethi, while talking to reporters in Karachi. “PCB will back Yasir Shah in these difficult times,” he added.

Yasir has been the mainstay for Pakistan’s bowling line-up in Test matches since his debut in October 2014. The 29-year-old has 76 Test scalps in 12 Tests for his country and holds the record for being the fastest Pakistani bowler to reach the 50-wicket mark in the format.