ISLAMABAD, Dec 5: The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Dr Naseem Ashraf, while hailing the verdict of the Appellate Tribunal to exonerate fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif of doping charges, said the case was now closed and neither the International Cricket Council (ICC) nor World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) would take action against the players.

Addressing a crowded press conference here on Tuesday, Dr Ashraf said that the decision to reverse the doping bans on the pacers was taken under the code of PCB since the original doping test were also conducted by the PCB on its own accord.

He said that Justice Ibrahim had made the decision on legal grounds and as per the decision of the appellate tribunal, the two Pakistani fast bowlers have been exonerated of the doping charges. “Now both the players are free to play in the national team for upcoming series including World Cup 2007 in the West Indies,” said the chairman.

“PCB honours this decision of the independent appellate tribunal in exactly the same way it respected the decision of the first commission chaired by Barrister Hamid,” he said. “Through a transparent process ensuring absolute impartiality, the appellate tribunal carried out detailed proceeding of the case and acquitted the two bowlers of the doping charges on the basis that the “nutritional supplements taken by the two players containing contamination led to positive urine tests.”

Dr Ashraf said both Shoaib and Asif took supplements which they had purchased from open market in London and they were not aware of the presence of any banned substance in it. “Asif used one supplement, while Shoaib used five different supplements,” he disclosed. The chairman, however, said that both the players faced the risk of testing positive again since the supplement will remain in their bodies for another four to six months.

Dr Nasim Ashraf said the matter was now closed and no further probe will be required into the case. However, he emphasised that board’s policy of ‘zero tolerance’ on drugs will remain in place. “The PCB is satisfied that there is closure on this case with the ruling of the appellate tribunal today. Many lessons have been learned and PCB stands by its zero tolerance policy regarding the drug abuse and hopes that the theme of ‘playing true’ will be followed by all cricketers in its true letter and spirit.”