Weightlifting: Shehzad facing doping ban

Shehzad tested positive for using a banned substance in a test conducted during South Asian Weightlifting Championship

KARACHI: The Pakistan Weightlifting Federation’s (PWF) preparations for the SAF Games were dealt a blow as Khurram Shehzad faces a ban over an alleged doping incident. Shehzad tested positive for using a banned substance in a test conducted during the South Asian Weightlifting Championship where he claimed the gold medal in the 94kg category. While he hopes that his ‘B’ sample gets cleared, the PWF officials are not happy with the current scenario as they feel that they cannot plan a proper run for the SAF Games amid doubts over a key participant. “Shehzad is vital for us because he is a genuine medal contender,” a PWF official told The Express Tribune. “But his case is still pending with the International Wrestling Federation and we haven’t heard anything from them. The uncertainty surrounding the National Games is not helping our case either.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2012.