Karachi: The Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation has imposed a two-year ban on renowned international athlete Mohammad Sajjad for failing a dope test during the Asian Indoor Championships held in Doha, Qatar in February.

Sajjad won the bronze medal for Pakistan in the 110 metres hurdles and was tested by the organisers when he tested positive.

Sajjad, who is in the services, tested positive for the banned substance, Nandrolone and during a disciplinary hearing of the PAAF he confessed to an intake of the substance to increase his strength and endurance and refused a sample B test for reconfirmation from WADA.

"He cannot participate in any domestic or international competition for two years as per World Anti-Doping Agency rules. He has embarrassed the country," Khalid Mehmood Chaudhary, secretary of the federation, told PTI today.

Chaudhary said the case was a big shock for the federation as Sajjad had appeared in the Asian Games, SAF games and other regional and international events regularly.

He said this was the first instance of a Pakistani athlete testing positive for a banned substance.

"To avoid such shameful incidents in future we have decided to have compulsory dope tests of all our athletes before every international events," he said.

Pakistani cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif had also tested positive for the same substance in 2006 and were initially banned for two years before they were cleared of the charges. 
Source : PTI