Akhtar, Gul & Akmal dope-tested ahead of World Cup
In an attempt to keep the cricket World Cup out of bounds for drug cheats, ICC's anti-doping agency has started random dope testing of players and Pakistani trio of Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Kamran Akmal were among the first cricketers, a source said on Thursday.
In an attempt to keep the cricket World Cup out of bounds for drug cheats, ICC's anti-doping agency has started random dope testing of players and Pakistani trio of Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Kamran Akmal were among the first cricketers, a source said on Thursday.
The trio were tested by International Cricket Council's drug inspectors after they returned from a practice session.
The sources, however, termed the exercise as a routine procedure ahead of any major sporting event.
"It's normal to test players before and during a tournament. Nothing fishy about it. Others will also be tested," he said.
35-year-old Akhtar, who has been in-and-out of Pakistan side due to a spate of injuries, tested positive for a banned drug nandrolone in 2006 and was banned for five years.