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LAHORE Pakistan Hockey Federation's (PHF) sudden axing of Olympian Tariq Aziz despite his selection for the forthcoming tour of Europe may not be fitness-related but his being in danger of testing positive for dope, Dawn learnt on Thursday.
Well-informed sources told Dawn that the PHF had sent Tariq's urine sample to an international lab to confirm whether the player was using any kind of drugs.
Tariq was named in the 17-member Pakistan team which is set to leave for a tour of Europe from Sept 24 where they will play Test matches against France, Poland and Belgium as part of the preparations for the World Cup qualifiers, to be held in France in November.
Though a PHF spokesman said that Tariq's sample had been sent to the lab since the player was experiencing constant, sources disclosed that the PHF had actually come to know about the player's drug addiction as well as reports about more players among the 21 (including five reserves for the European tour) using banned substances.
'By sending Tariq Aziz's sample, the PHF has conveyed an ultimate warning to the others that they too can be tested for drugs,' sources said.
They further added that after receiving reports about Tariq, PHF President Qasim Zia had held a meeting with the federation's think-tank on Sept 10 — five days after the selection of the Europe-bound team — and decided to have the player undergo a dope test on Sept 12.
While urging the others to stay away from illegal and immoral practices, the president also warned them that the PHF will not show any kind of leniency in any such case.
The FIH too has announced random tests during the World Cup as well as the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, according to Dr Meesaq Rizvi, the doctor who dispatched Tariq's sample to Malaysia, the results are expected in about two weeks and the delay had been caused due to the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in Malaysia.
Sources also showed surprise over the selection committee's having picked an unfit player, if PHF's stance about Tariq experiencing back pain was to be believed.
Tariq, a product of the PHF academy, which was working under Inam Rabbani in 2005-06 had earlier made headlines after facing a six-month ban from the PHF for hitting an Australian player with his hockey stick during the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006.
