October 08, 2006	Sunday	Ramazan 14, 1427

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KARACHI, Oct 7: Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) said on Saturday that Mehrullah and Faisal Kareem were facing charges of using marijuana but the federation would take action against them only after official confirmation.

“We have no official word, either from the organisers of the South Asian Games or from Pakistan Olympic Association. I have heard that Mehrullah and Faisal will challenge the allegations. But what I can say is that if they are found guilty, PBF will definitely take some action,” said PBF secretary Shakeel Durrani on Saturday.

Mehrullah and Faisal made headlines for all the wrong reasons when they were tested positive by the South Asian Games organisers after the event in August. It was revealed that instead of using performance-enhancing drugs, the boxers had actually used marijuana before the event.

Though POA is tight-lipped on the issue, it is believed that the two boxers will be taken to Games venue Colombo where they will challenge the charges. Their urine samples will be tested again but in case of failure they might be slapped with harsh penalties.

While Shakeel was determined that some “action” will be taken against the pair if they are found involved in using marijuana, he refused to divulge actually what sort of step will PBF take.

“I can’t say anything what action we will take but I can assure that there will be some action. We don’t encourage boxers to use drugs such as marijuana. We can’t allow any boxer to indulge in such activity which tarnishes country’s image,” said PBF official.At the same time, Shakeel was somewhat liberal and expressed his helplessness when he said using marijuana is a “personal act” which he or any other PBF official could not closely watch.

“If they (boxers) used marijuana then it was an act of an individual. PBF has no control over it, although we do not encourage such activity,” official said.

Nevertheless, when asked was it not the duty of PBF to ensure that boxer comply rules and regulations and maintain discipline during the training camps, PBF secretary said federation had no control over what trainees did during their visit to their homes and families.

Shakeel contended that PBF maintained strict discipline at the training camp at National Sports Training and Coaching Centre (NSTCC) and it was surely during their outings that the boxers could have used marijuana.

“We always allow boxers to leave training camp premises to meet family members. They are free to go wherever they want. It is boxing training camp not a military camp. I am sure they used marijuana outside the camp,” PBF official argued.

However, a Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) official contends that it was because of indiscipline and permission to leave the training camp as frequently as they wished that boxers got involved in illegal activities such as using drugs.

“It is this extraordinary freedom given to the boxers by PBF that the country is facing this embarrassment. Had the PBF watched the boxers closely and maintained discipline, the situation would have been different,” says a PSB official on the condition of anonymity.

Interestingly, Mehrullah, who burst into limelight after clinching 2002 Asian Games gold in Busan, was caught red-handed by police at the venue of Green Hill Cup in July when he was trying to enter the indoor boxing stadium carrying two bottles of liquor in his kit bag.

The law enforcement agencies personnel had released Mehrullah after reprimanding the boxer when he told him that liquor was for his Cuban coach. However, sources say alcohol was actually bought by the star pugilist for his personal use.

Mehrullah, who is facing yet another tight situation today, became an instant celebrity four year ago as well as a millionaire when President Pervez Musharraf presented him five million rupees for winning Asian Games gold.

Meanwhile, Shakeel said PBF can’t taken any action on Sohail Baloch’s disappearance in Germany where he had gone to take part in the 50th CISM world boxing championships in Warendorf.

“It is purely the problem of military personnel since they had selected the squad and they appointed their own team officials without consulting PBF,” the official said.