July 30, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 26, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 29: The Pakistan hockey squad and a shooter will be participating in the forthcoming Beijing Olympic Games without being dope tested while Pakistan’s swimmers and athletes have cleared there tests.

While confirming the 35-member Beijing-bound Pakistani contingent’s departure on July 31, Chairman, Anti-Doping Organisation of Pakistan (ADOP) Dr Waqar told Dawn on Tuesday: “The Pakistan hockey team, comprising 16 members, is the largest in the Olympic contingent and we sent letters to the Pakistan Hockey Federation as well as the shooter but are yet to receive their replies,” he said.

The swimmers Adil Baig and Kiran Khan were given a wild card entry to the discipline in the Beijing Olympic Games. Pakistan is also competing on a wild card in athletics and shooting.

The two athletes Abdul Rasheed and Sadaf Siddiqui too have already cleared their dope tests.

Regarding the swimmers’ test, the chairman said: “Their tests were sent to the World Anti Doping Agency some two weeks back and we received the good news about their clearing it today.

“I am only hopeful that Pakistan will not face any doping issues at the Olympic Games,” the ADOP chairman concluded.