Asif should be ready for two-year ban

Mohammad Asif may have confirmed his status as the 'bad boy of world cricket', but it will be officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) who will stand a test of character in the coming days.

The IPL may have hurried in naming the cricketer who tested positive for a banned substance during their inaugural tournament, but one will have to wait and see whether the officials follow their enthusiasm with the stern decisions that such a situation warrants.

For all the talk of a life ban on Asif, he might just escape with a warning if officials are not strict.

Since the IPL can only ban a player from its own tournaments, the ball will eventually be in the PCB's court. Though the International Cricket Council (ICC) expects the BCCI to come down strictly on the player, it's only as the organiser of the IPL that it can do anything and a lot would depend on how the three-member panel comprising Dr. Ravi Bapat, Sunil Gavaskar and Shirish Gupte tackles the matter.

The IPL can slap a ban of two years on Asif, that too only from its own tournaments. Even in case of a confirmation after a test of the 'B' sample, which is nothing but a part of the sample taken during the dope tests but secured in a different bottle to be opened in the presence of the sportsperson for a confirmation test, the athlete has the right to appeal citing 'accidental' use, for which he gets just a one-year ban or can even be let off with a warning.

The IPL's intent would matter more than anything else since its tournament is considered a domestic one and is not directly answerable to the ICC, which is a signer with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). After deciding on what ban it deems right on Asif, it can only forward its findings to the PCB for it to act further in the matter.

According to WADA rules, a first-time offender gets a two-year ban while a repeat offender faces a life ban. Even if these rules were to be followed, Asif would count as a first-time offender because he was exonerated by an appeals panel when he tested positive along with Shoaib Akhtar, just before the Champions Trophy in 2006. As for his being caught with a recreational drug in Dubai recently, that does not count as an offence since it was out of competition.

Senior journalist KP Mohan of 'The Hindu' felt a ban of two years could be expected in this case.

"I expect the IPL to follow rules very strictly and impose a two-year ban on Asif from its tournaments. The IPL is a new tournament and its officials would be keen to implement the rules. The ICC has been wanting the BCCI to adhere to WADA rules but the Board has been moving slowly on that and is expected to have everything in place only by 2009. But they would like to be seen as proactive and they have nothing to hide here," said Mohan.

"However, the PCB does not have a history of sticking by rules. In fact, their history is laughable. One panel found Asif and Akhtar guilty of doping and the other let them off. You can't say things like a player has a rural background and took something by mistake. You can't condone an offence in a court of law citing ignorance of laws, can you?

"But the PCB could be more vigorous now because the international spotlight is already on them and their officials might be getting sick of Asif. So, a two-year ban it is likely to be," he added.

Dr PSM Chandran of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) had a different perspective.

"A player has tested positive for dope and the law will take its normal course. A lot depends on the interpretation of rules in such cases and how the sports bodies look into cases. Since Asif had tested positive two years ago and only the decision was reversed, that can still be considered as the first offence," said Dr Chandran.

"However, let us not rush to conclusions before the procedure is completed. Let us not make a Dr. Rajesh Talwar out of Mohammad Asif."

Dr. Chandran was referring to Dr. Talwar, a dentist, who was suspected of murdering his daughter in Noida near Delhi, a case which was given wide coverage by the Indian media after investigating agencies claimed to have nailed him. However, no evidence was found against him and he was released after spending 50 days in prison.