Beleaguered Pakistan speedster Mohammad Asif's misery continues to grow. His 'B' sample has also tested positive for a banned substance. It had approximately 5.4 milligrams of nandrolone traces in his urine sample.
Asif's lawyer Shahid Karim confirmed on Tuesday that the pacer did test positive for a second time and added that he will appeal against the verdict.
The pacer tested positive for a banned substance during the Indian Premier League in May and appealed for the 'B' sample test.
''We will surely appeal because the test results of the same samples are different,'' Karim said.
While Asif's first test had shown 6.2 milligrams of nandrolone traces in the urine sample, in the next test, which was conducted in Geneva, Switzerland, its quantity was reduced to 5.4.
Asif, however, still sticks to his earlier claim that he is innocent and confident of winning his case on appeal.
''I am still hopeful that I will come out clean. It is very clear from the two results which have come out to be different; something is wrong somewhere.
''We will file an appeal with the drugs inquiry tribunal of the Indian Premier League and we will fight this case till we get justice,'' Asif said.
He said he did use some medicines which were prescribed to him for his elbow injury before going to the IPL, but denied taking any banned substances or drugs ever.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has already suspended Asif from playing any form of cricket recognised by it.
Asif had also tested positive for nandrolone before the 2006 Champions Trophy but, after being banned by a drugs inquiry tribunal, he was cleared by a PCB appeals tribunal.
He was also detained for 19 days by the Dubai airport authority, while returning home after his stint in the IPL, for allegedly possessing a banned substance.
The pacer could face more disciplinary action after a fact-finding committee appointed by the PCB completes its investigations into the reasons for his detention in Dubai.
