Doping athletes face life bans

LAHORE: The Anti-Doping Organization of Pakistan (ADOP) has vowed to impose strict penalties on five athletes that tested positive for using banned substances.

The ADOP conducted random dope tests during the National Games that were held last month in Peshawar with cyclists Noor Alam, Dilsher Ali and Zahid Gulfam as well as bodybuilders Mohammad Imran Qureshi and Javed Ali failing them.

“Our rules contain a strict liability rule which states that athletes are responsible for any substance found in their samples, regardless of how they say it got there,” Deputy Director General of ADOP Dr Waqar Ahmed told The Express Tribune. “This is a result of a phase when there were no checks in place and the athletes were striving for better results so that they could get promoted by their departments.

“On rare occasions, athletes have their suspensions shortened by proving that they consumed the banned substance unintentionally. However, since these athletes have international exposure and are well aware of the doping offenses, we won’t show any leniency towards them and some may even get life bans.”

The ADOP has formed a three-member disciplinary committee to review the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th,  2011.