Nasir to challenge extension of ban by CAS

KARACHI: Squash player Nasir Iqbal has decided to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for reduction in his ban.

Nasir was suspended for four years from February 29, 2016, by CAS for using 19-norandrosterone substance. “I know that the appeal procedure is quite expensive but I hope somehow I will get help. I have talked to Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) for financial help. I have a month’s time to appeal,” Nasir told ‘The News’.

He was initially banned for just one year by World Squash Federation (WSF) but World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) was not happy with that decision and took the case to CAS for extending the ban. The CAS reviewed the case and imposed a four-year ban on Nasir.

“WADA thought that the one year penalty by WSF was not sufficient hence it took the case to CAS,” said Dr Waqar, the country representative of WADA for Pakistan, while talking to ‘The News.

It may be noted that WSF cleared Nasir of doping charges in January this year and allowed him to play Professional Squash Association (PSA) circuit. The suspension has hit Nasir hard as he dropped from 35th to 441st rank, his lowest ever.

Nasir’s samples were taken before the South Asian Games held in India in February 2016 and his sample A was found to be positive.According to the rules, a player can be banned for four years if he is tested positive.

Nasir’s reading was 3.8 for using anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). Nasir has also been stripped of his gold medal he won at South Asian Games, which made Farhan Zaman the gold medalist.