Appeal date for banned athletes extended

The PSB anti-doping committee has extended the date for appealing against a two-year ban imposed on seven athletes.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) anti-doping committee has extended the date for appealing against a two-year ban imposed on seven athletes, who recently tested positive in a dope test.

“No athlete has appealed against the ban as yet,” Anti-doping Incharge Dr Waqar Ahmed told The Express Tribune. “They could have appealed to clarify their stance if they weren’t satisfied with the hearing’s outcome. But Ramazan is a busy month, so they have one more week to appeal.”

The banned athletes include five women including Olympian Sumaira Zahoor, and three men from  Pakistan Army, including Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Imran and Asif Javaid. Nadia Nazir, Rozina Shafqat and Shagufta Nureen from Wapda were also banned.

“Sumaira was the only one who didn’t appear before the committee last month, so her hearing will be scheduled on September 20,” said Waqar, adding that all records and medals have been forfeited from the date of the dope test that was conducted on July 6.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2010.