Embattled Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif was today handed a one-year ban by the Indian Premier League (IPL) Drugs Tribunal for failing a dope test during the inaugural edition of the Twenty20 tournament last year.
After finding the 26-year-old fast bowler guilty of violating the anti-doping code, the IPL Drug Tribunal, chaired by legal expert Shirish Gupte, made the formal announcement today though it arrived at the decision yesterday.
Media reports, quoting sources, had already claimed that Asif will be banned.
Apart from Gupte, the tribunal also comprised former Vice Chancellor of MUHS, Ravi Bapat and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.
Asif, playing for Delhi Daredevils had tested positive for banned substance -- nandrolone -- during the inaugural edition of the cash-rich event.
A statement from the IPL Drugs Tribunal said that the ban, which suspends the bowler from taking part in the second edition of the tournament starting April 10, will be effective from September 22 last year.