Eight Pakistani athletes tested positive: PSB

Karachi: The Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation was faced with an embarrassing situation after it was disclosed that eight athletes had tested positive in dope tests carried out during the national championships. Though no official of the federation was willing to confirm or deny the news but a member of the Pakistan Sports Board anti-doping committee admitted eight athletes had failed their dope tests. "It is a matter of great concern for us because only recently two other female athletes had tested positive during out of competition dope tests in the national training camp in Islamabad," he said yesterday. The eight athletes who tested positive from the national championship includes Muhammad Wasim, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Asif, Zehra Razzaq, Nadia Nazir, Shafugta Noreen, Rozina Shafqat and Samira Zahoor -- all topped in their respective events in the championship. "These athletes face a possible two-year ban if their appeals are not accepted. They have the right to appeal against the initial penalties," a PSB official said. The inquiry committee formed by the PSB to hear the appeals of the two female athletes Sadaf Siddiqui (who represented Pakistan in the Beijing Olympics) and Javaria had rejected their appeals at a recent hearing handing out two-year bans on them. PTI