In the continuing cricket controversy that is the saga of Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Asif , a fresh question is now thrown up; that of the authority if the Indian Premier League (IPL) Drug Tribunal to ban Asif and the extent of that ban. It was the statement issued by Lalit Modi, IPL chairman that IPL has the power to issue the ban that has raised this fresh cricket controversy. The debate is what is the extent of IPL’s power?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken the view that the IPL has banned Asif from the sport of cricket and has said that it expects all the cricket boards who are members of the ICC to ‘adopt’ the ban in a way that applies to any and all cricket played by Asif.

One certainly has to question the position of the ICC and the IPL tribunal if indeed they have purported to issue such a blanket ban on the Pak player. Yes the IPL can ban Asif from playing in those Twenty20 cricket matches that are organized by and played under the auspices of the IPL, but authority can be said to exert from the IPL that permits them to ban Asif from all cricket; for the sport of cricket?

The fact is that IPL has no such authority, a fact that is set out in the rules of the IPL, rule 1.1.18 that states:

“Ineligibility/suspension means that the cricketer shall be barred from participating in any capacity in any event or activity (other than authorized anti-doping education or rehabilitation programme and any events or activities relating to the cricketer’s achievements prior to his or her anti-doping code violation) authorized or organized by the IPL during the ineligibility period.”

Well granted that the IPL does not have the authority which is only logical; but does that then mean that the Pak player who has been found guilty as charged of using the performance enhancing drug Nandrolone can be permitted to play other forms of cricket? To play domestic cricket, even to represent his country? That cannot be right either! A steroid abuse violation is a serious one; it isn’t something that you can simply over look.  

Perhaps it now falls to the Pakistan Cricket Board to take appropriate action in the matter and treat the delinquent Asif with the firmness he deserves rather than appealing to the IPL for preponment of the ban appealing to the IPL for preponment of the ban imposed on him.

Comments

Add New RSS

3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

Newer news items:

Older news items: