July 18, 2008	Friday	Rajab 14, 1429

KARACHI, July 17: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has violated the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code by making advance announcement that 30 players picked for the ICC Champions Trophy would be dope tested on coming weekend, an expert said.

“Being WADA compliant, the PCB should not have made advance notification for out-of-competition (dope) test that could give an athlete a chance to take masking agents to conceal the effects of a banned substance,” Dr Danish Zaheer, Pakistan’s renowned WADA accredited anti-doping and sports medicine expert, said.

He went on to say that such advance notice test may make an athlete vulnerable to the risk of his drink or food being tampered with by any rival athlete so that to disqualify the other athlete through a dope test.

“An argument the athlete can use for his defence if tested positive. The advance notice according to the WADA Code can only be given once the athlete is reached through telephone but the advance notice should not be more than one hour,” he said.

As per the WADA Code clause 3.1 of the Advance Notice Testing once the contact is made the athlete should be instructed to meet the doping officer within one hour of that notice and an implication be made clear to the athlete in case of a failure, Dr Danish added.—APP