ICC suspends Yasir for failed dope test

The ICC today provisionally suspended Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah after he flunked a dope test conducted last month during the ODI series against England.
"The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that Pakistan's bowler Yasir Shah has been charged with an anti-doping rule violation under the ICC Anti-Doping Code," the world body said in a statement.
The sample Yasir provided in an in-competition test, which was conducted on November 13, was found to contain the presence of chlortalidone, a Prohibited Substance which appears in Section 5 of the WADA Prohibited List (in the category of Specified Substances).
Pakistan had played an ODI against England in Abu Dhabi on the day this test was conducted.

"In accordance with the ICC Anti-Doping Code, pending the outcome of the disciplinary process, Yasir has been provisionally suspended."
(REOPENS SPF-14)

Shah has 14-days to come clean or present a strong certified medical reason for using the prohibited substance chlortalidone.
Dr Pervaz Rizvi, a senior sports medicine specialist said that chlortalidone was used as a masking agent by athletes to disguise the use of other banned substances to lose body weight, build up body muscles and improve energy levels.
"But it contains a therapeutic Diuretic which are also used for treatment of high blood pressure, renal problems, hypertension or congestive heart condition. Diuretics are medicines that help reduce water in body," Rizvi explained.

He said Yasir can ask for a B sample test in seven days under the WADA rules and regulations.
"But the B sample will also most probably come positive. He has 14-days to admit he used the prohibited substance as a masking agent or the team doctor/medical expert of the Pakistan cricket board has to show Yasir took the medicine under certified treatment," he said.
The senior physician said nowadays all sporting bodies were taking WADA anti-doping regulations very seriously and tests were carried in and outside competition randomly.
"If Yasir was prescribed the drug for some medical condition than he or his doctor should have notified the ICC about this," he said.

Rizvi felt that Yasir most probably used the medicine when he fell unfit on the eve of the first Test against England and his treatment was rushed to make him available for the second match.
Sources in the PCB said there were plans to ask for a B sample test as well but the general manager medical had been asked to see what could be done to save the leg spinner from a long term ban.
Yasir faces a two-year ban if his B sample also tests positive and he is unable to plead his case on medical grounds.