Shoaib Akhtar banned for two years...

[ll0OoO0ll]

Originally Posted by admin

Not much has been said in this thread regarding the injuries the players were trying to overcome. I'm no expert on drugs but it seems to me to be to everyone's benefit if professional sportsman can get drug-related assistance to recover as quickly as possible so the public can see them in action again as soon as possible. Where I draw the line to taking drugs is when a player is using them whilst playing - that is performance enhancing. I don't see a problem with professional sportsman taking them to recover because they aren't actually competing.

You've brought up an interesting point. I think an astronomical increase in number of cricket matches has played a major role behind the frequent injuries of modern day international cricketers. It has also somewhat decreased the interest element in the game. I think together with the introduction of new drugs, we should try to restore the beauty of cricket by limiting the cricket activity in accord to a sportsman's ability to compete while staying healthy. These guys are human beings like us, they are not electric powered robots.

[Shaka]

Frankly I am amazed that the PCB have shot themselves in the foot over such a scenario. Pakistan were under no legal obligation to punish their frontline strike bowlers, and considering how Shane Warne is still universally considered a hero despite contending that he was just providing Indian bookies with a "weather forecast" during the match-fixing scandal of recent past, Pakistan were under no moral obligation either.

[Seamer]

Are you saying you want Steroid use to go unpunished?

As to Warne - he did the crime and did the time for the same offense.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Seamer

Are you saying you want Steroid use to go unpunished?

No I am saying as Pakistan aren't yet legally bound to apply a two year ban for these offences a lesser ban should have been applied and any further offences should come under the WADA jurisdiction after proper clarification.

Perfectly legal and as much in line with the spirit of the law as Warne's punishment for providing "weather forecasts" to Indian bookies.

[Quagmire]

They went easy on them both, they both should have been given life bans for steriod use. Its the end of Shoaib.

Warne did not take a performance enhancing drug so I don't know how they can be compared, Warne took a diet pill not steriods.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Shaka

Perfectly legal and as much in line with the spirit of the law as Warne's punishment for providing "weather forecasts" to Indian bookies.

From memory, Warne went unpunished for that because it was deemed and unpunishable offense as he was unaware that the people were bookies. He did not throw any games or do anything dodgy on the field - he merely offered his opinions on up-coming games. Nothing wrong with that - many international cricketers do that.

[Mr Hutt]

so when someone sidled up to warnie.. and said so mate what ya reckon can happen tommorow warnie though that was the weatherman?? cmon lol

they are all smart enough.. they know..

[DomainK]

Originally Posted by Quagmire

They went easy on them both, they both should have been given life bans for steriod use. Its the end of Shoaib.

Warne did not take a performance enhancing drug so I don't know how they can be compared, Warne took a diet pill not steriods.

Whatever it was, they all took banned substances and were banned.

[Quagmire]

Well yes you are right but steroids are worse, and should be a life ban because its performance enhancing and plainly not fair on other cricketers. I would love to know how long Shoiab has been taking steriods, might explain his pace. Just kidding he has always been a brilliant bowler, its a shame for Pakistan because Asif and Aktar have dragged the reputation of team through the dirt along with them.Sad time for Pakistan

[Shaka]

A sad time for Pakistan, but ironically a great time for Warnie. Overcoming bookie scandals, steroid abuse convictions and only a 1 year ban to show for the lot during a career lauded as a hero to this day.