Asif challenges IPL drug inquiry tribunal

MUMBAI: Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif has challenged the authority of the Indian Premier League drugs inquiry tribunal to prosecute him for a doping offence.

The IPL tribunal lawyer, Shirish Gupte, said Asif's team had objected that the IPL has no locus standi to decide on the case, as there was another anti-doping authority to deal with it.

The IPL tribunal adjourned its proceedings for four weeks after an inconclusive hearing on Saturday. Asif appeared before the three-member tribunal with his lawyer, Shahid Karim and British sports medicine specialist, Dr. Michael Graham.

The tribunal's hearing took place to listen to Asif's plea as he faces a possible two-year ban for testing positive twice for a banned substance. The Pakistan Cricket Board had suspended Asif after his positive results came in June during the IPL.