Cricket: Akhtar, Asif not in the clear yet

KARACHI - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has backed the World Anti-Doping Agency's (Wada) decision to appeal against the lifting of doping bans on Pakistan fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

Wada has asked the independent Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport to rule on a decision by a Pakistan Cricket Board appeals tribunal to lift both players' bans.

Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one after they tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in October.

In a statement today ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said that the world governing body's lawyers had examined the findings of the appeals tribunal.

"Our lawyers... do not believe the ICC has a right of appeal but we will co-operate with Wada and provide it with any assistance it requires," Speed said.

- REUTERS