Troubled Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif was handed a one year ban on Wednesday for the use of banned substance Nandrolone during the IPL season last year. The ban runs till September 21, 2009, back-dated to last September when the IPL imposed a suspension on him. Asif has already been released by his IPL team, the Delhi Daredevils, after a mutual agreement earlier this year and for now the bowler remains suspended by the Pakistan board as well.

The IPL drug tribunal was chaired by legal expert Shirish Gupte. Apart from Mr. Gupte, the tribunal also consisted of Ravi Bapat, Vice Chancellor of MUHS and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.

"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 extracted from the player during the support period and the match played on May 30th 2008 between the Delhi Daredevils and the Rajasthan Royals at Mumbai," said a statement from the IPL's three-man drugs tribunal.
Asif, who has already been banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board, told the tribunal last month he unknowingly took the substance which was present in an eye drop that he was using for allergy.
The right-handed fast bowler has a series of run-ins with controversies and was detained at the Dubai airport for 19 days last June with 0.24 grams of opium in his possession when returning home after playing in the IPL.

C.Karthik