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Yasir Shah tests positive for banned substance

cnerd123

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No, seriously. Do you really believe there is no chance of this being a mistake? Especially given the PCB's track record with trying to be Professional?

I can't find out who the team doctor is. They have a physiotherapist who seems quite experienced and qualified, but is he the one directing who takes what medication? If so, that seems to be a bit out of his expertise?

The list of banned substances is easy enough to find - Prohibited Substances | List of Prohibited Substances and Methods

We can all agree that an international athlete and those assigning medication to them should be well aware of this list, and should check it before taking any medication.

But how sure are we that this incident was not just pure stupidity?
 

Grumpy

U19 Vice-Captain
No, I don't believe the PCB medical team is incompetent. There's a reason why it's a stereotype for a Doctor to be of SC origin. They seem to have high respect for the medical field.

What I do believe is that this was a dubious act from the medical team and they knew what they were doing. What I'm unsure of is if they acted on their own accord or from instruction from the team management or PCB themselves. I believe it is the latter. They were desperate for Yasir to be fast tracked back into the team after the first test
 

cnerd123

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Also we must keep in mind Yasir tested positive for a diuretic. Not a steroid, but something used to make you pee more.

Ofcourse druggies will use diuretics in order to flush their body of actual drugs, but its still a reasonably big leap to assume everyone testing positive for diuretics are also on steroids.

Im curious what the labelling on the blood pressure meds Yasir took read, and why he took one to begin with. Does he actually have blood pressure problems, and one day (or over the course of a week or smth) he ran out of his approved medication, was too lazy/unable to get more, and so took his wife's instead without a second thought?

Did he even inform whoever the PCB's doctor is? Did the doctor drop the ball and not realise that the drug my have contained smth that was prhobited? Did the doctor just suck at his job?

There is still a lot of stuff we don't know. Way too many doubts here for me to chalk this up to malicious intent. Never attribute to evil what could be attributed to stupidity.
 

honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
But do you also think it was "just" a coincidence that Yasir was coming back from a shoulder injury when he decides to be stupid, just like Warne?
 

cnerd123

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I dont know what to think. I want more information. I'd err on the side of giving a player the benefit of the doubt - labelling someone a cheat is a massive thing and we shouldn't be so hasty to do so.
 

indiaholic

International Captain
Of course. Is this one of those occasions where you would consider a lighter sentence? And who do you think the onus of proving that it is indeed stupidity should fall on?
 

cnerd123

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Of course. Is this one of those occasions where you would consider a lighter sentence? And who do you think the onus of proving that it is indeed stupidity should fall on?
I would consider a lighter sentence

It's up to Yasir himself to prove it's stupidity, if it is indeed that. The WADA get to be the judge of this. All they know is he failed a test; it's up to him to earn a lighter sentence.

If they balance of evidence leans more towards 'dumb mistake' than 'trying to mask drugs', he should get a lighter sentence. If not, then standard punishment.
 

Grumpy

U19 Vice-Captain
WADA are strict on these matters. It's not like Warne who got a lenient ban by CA.

It's going to be 4 years. No way he's getting anything lighter. Especially if this only defence is he took his wife's pills by mistake.
 

hendrix

Hall of Fame Member
1. No, I don't believe the PCB medical team is incompetent.

2. What I do believe is that this was a dubious act from the medical team and they knew what they were doing.
I'm inclined to agree, but we do have a problem reconciling point 1 with point 2.

Using a banned diuretic to mask PEDs use is probably unnecessary if they knew what they were doing. So there was indeed some level of incompetence.
 

Compton

International Debutant
If someone playing sport professionally takes a pill and doesn't think "I should check with someone to make sure this is okay" then they deserve all the punishment they get.
 

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