MUMBAI, Feb 11: Disgraced Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif formally received a one-year ban for doping from the Indian Premier League on Wednesday but expressed relief the case had finally been resolved.

Asif was initially suspended last May after testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone in the inaugural edition of the league.

The 26-year-old maintained he had never intentionally used drugs, but said he made some mistakes that he would not repeat.

“I’m relieved that the drugs inquiry tribunal has finally given its decision. Since last year I have been under a lot of pressure,” Asif told Reuters in Karachi.

“I want to play for Pakistan and be cleared of this doping charges because I have never used banned substances intentionally.”

Organisers of the IPL said the ban would be retroactively imposed from Sept 22 last year.

“Mohammad Asif was found guilty... in as much as a prohibited substance namely nandrolone was found in the urine sample extracted from the player during the support period and the match played on May 30, 2008,” they said in a statement.

“The year’s ineligibility for Mohammad Asif will be from Sept 22 2008, as that was the date when the league had imposed the suspension order, post which the cricketer has not been allowed to play any match.”

Both Asif’s urine samples showed traces of the banned substance above the permissible limit.

Asif, who was also banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the positive test, quit the league a week before his appeal against the charges last month.

Asif, who has played 11 Tests and 31 One-day Internationals since his Pakistan debut in early 2005, was also detained for 19 days in Dubai last June after customs officials found opium in his wallet while returning home from playing in the league.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said it expected all member boards to enforce Asif’s ban.

“As an international governing body, the ICC maintains a zero tolerance in the area of doping,” ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.

Lorgat also confirmed cricket’s governing body had been informed of the decision by the Indian league tribunal.

“The ICC has yet to consider the written reasons for the decision in the matter and will make no further comment at this stage.”—Reuters