The Indian Premier League (IPL) has banned Pakistani bowler Mohammad Asif on Friday, January 30th 2009, for one year, after he tested positive for dope, according to the Times of India. Salman Ahmed, Asif’s agent, has confirmed the news and told news sources that Asif will be able to play again in end September 2009 – the ban being taking effect since September 15, 2008.

The 26 years old cricketer has tested positive for an anabolic steroid nandrolone, which Asif attributed to his use of a new eye drop. However, he had also tested positive for nandrolone in 2006 while playing the ICC Champions Trophy in India. In addition, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is investigating Asif’s detention for 19 days in Dubai in June 2008; he was caught carrying a small quantity of opium at the Dubai airport. If found guilty of the illegal possession of the drug, Asif would find it even more difficult to return to professional cricket.

As the scandals associated with cricket players become more frequently heard in news, the good spirit of the most popular sport in Pakistan is being adversely affected. Whether it is from lack of knowledge or deliberate attempts, the passion for better show is overtaking the sense of sportsmanship in our country’s cricket players. Strict monitoring and penalties are therefore increasingly becoming important besides good counseling and special emphasis on abstinence from drugs and other illegal means of getting success as a sports hero.