Hamid: Duo could still be banned

Shahid Hamid, head of the Pakistani anti-doping tribunal that banned pace duo Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif earlier this year, has denied suggestions that the recently acquitted pair have been completely exonerated.

Hamid claims that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) still have the power to reinforce the overturned bans, the AFP has reported.

“According to the WADA code they can apply for provisional suspension,” he said.

“It is a fact that Pakistan government signed the Copenhagen declaration in 2003, like other 186 governments, including 38 countries in Asia.”

“Pakistan government has paid to WADA the annual and subscription fee for the years 2006 and 2007.”

“This declaration, through culture and sports ministries, binds us to follow the WADA codes and under clause 13 of their codes, the WADA has the right of appeal against the decision of a national anti-doping commission whether it is done during the competition or out of competition.”

As noted here, WADA have asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne to look into the decision by the PCB to overturn the bannings, a move fully supported by the ICC.