Mohammad Asif denied taking a banned substance after it emerged he had failed a doping test during the IPL.
Pakistan paceman at a loss to explain positive test
Mohammad Asif has protested his innocence after it emerged he
failed a doping test during the Indian Premier League.
Tournament organisers announced on Monday that the Pakistan fast bowler, who played for the Delhi Daredevils during the April 18-June 1 Twenty20 event, had tested positive for a banned substance.
Asif, who has the right to ask for his B sample to be tested to confirm the positive finding, faces a possible five-year ban from the IPL.
"I have taken no banned substances or drugs and I am innocent," Asif told
Reuters in a telephone interview on Monday.
"I am hoping the board will support me and help me clear my name.
"I will take a decision on having the sample 'B' tested after consulting with the board.
Careful
"I just don't know how this has happened because I have been very careful with the medicines I use."
It is not the first time that Asif has been embroiled in a drugs controversy, having been detained for 19 days at Dubai International Airport on his way home from the IPL for possession of an illegal substance - the charges were eventually dropped by the Dubai authorities, who judged the quantity found as "insignificant".
The 25-year-old was also sent home from the 2006 Champions Trophy after testing positive for nandrolone in internal tests carried out by the PCB.
He initially received a one-year ban for that offence, but it was overturned on appeal.
