Pakistan's Mohammad Asif - ap

NEW DELHI (AP)

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has been formally banned for one year from the lucrative Indian Premier League (ILP) after testing positive for nandrolone during last year's inaugural tournament.

"Mohammad Asif was found guilty by the IPL drug tribunal in as much as a prohibited substance, namely nandrolone, was found in the urine sample from the player during the support period and the match played on May 30, 2008 between the Delhi Daredevils and the Rajasthan Royals at Mumbai," the IPL's three-man anti-doping tribunal said in a statement published yesterday by Cricinfo.com.

Asif said he will consult his lawyer and doctor before deciding to appeal against a 12-month ban.

"I will consult both my lawyer and doctor whether I should appeal against the ban or not," Asif told reporters in the eastern city of Lahore.

"I am fully fit and now I am concentrating on my cricket."

Political reasons

The ban means Asif will be ineligible for IPL or any other international or first-class cricket competition until September 21, taking in the entire second season of the Twenty20 competition. However, Pakistan's government had already ruled its players would not take part in the 2009 Indian league for political reasons, in the wake of last year's Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Asif had earlier asked to be released from his contract with IPL franchise the Delhi Daredevils while he contested the charges. His appeal had been delayed several times.

The 26-year-old paceman appealed against the results of the doping tests because the A and B samples showed different levels of nandrolone, which he claimed was contained in eye drops he'd been using to treat a sore eye.

In this latest case, the PCB had suspended Asif from playing domestic and international cricket, pending the IPL decision.