Banned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has termed the decision of the anti-doping tribunal of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as biased and also challenged the credibility of tribunal member, Intikhab Alam.
"It was not a fair trial. They should have considered my medical condition. I have gone through dozens of operations and have taken hundreds of medicines to heal injuries," Shoaib was quoted as saying in the Dawn Friday.
Shoaib, 31 and his teammate Mohammed Asif, 23, were banned for two and one year respectively after they tested positive for the banned substance Nandrolone.
PCB conducted the tests in September and reason being, the bowlers missed the Champions Trophy in India following the revelations.
"I am not a doctor and don't know much about medicines. There are certain herbal medicines, which are not banned and I have been taking them. Tennis player Greg Rusedski was cleared even though his levels of Nandrolone were higher than mine," said Shoaib.
The fast bowler went on to add, "I would also challenge the credibility of Intikhab since he had indicated to me during the hearing that I would be acquitted."
{{/usCountry}}The fast bowler went on to add, "I would also challenge the credibility of Intikhab since he had indicated to me during the hearing that I would be acquitted."
{{/usCountry}}Intikhab countered, "Shoaib has his own point of view and I have my own. I have no grudge against him and the commission gave him every available opportunity to prove his innocence."
According to Shoaib, doping expert Waqar Ahmed, a member of the tribunal, had suggested that in such cases the level of Nandrolone could have been 20ng/ml and relief should be given to him.
The level of Nandrolone in Shoaib's urine sample was found to be 14.6ng/ml while only 2ng/ml is tolerable according to the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) rules.