Raza Hasan tests positive for cocaine
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KARACHI: Pakistan’s 22-year-old left arm spinner Raza Hasan may face suspension from all forms of cricket after testing positive for cocaine in a dope test conducted during the recent Pentangular Cup in Karachi.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which conducted random testing during the tournament, sent Raza's samples to a World Anti-Doping Agency’s (Wada) accredited laboratory in India.
A source close to the PCB said that Raza, who has represented Pakistan in one ODI and 10 T20s, has been advised to submit his response through a legal counsel to a two-member committee formulated by the board in this regard.
“The results of the ‘B’ sample are still awaited but on the basis of the ‘A’ sample results, the board has already established a two-member committee to charge the spinner and seek an explanation from him,” a source close to the board told a Press Trust of India correspondent.
“The PCB is taking the matter very seriously because this is the first time any player has tested positive for the use of cocaine. If Raza fails to clear himself before the inquiry committee, he will face a two-year ban from all forms of cricket.”
It remains to be seen whether Raza will also face a police investigation after the PCB inquiry as the use of cocaine is a criminal offence in Pakistan.
The use cocaine may be the first incident of its kind, but several international players have been reported and banned from playing cricket for using illegal drugs.
Pakistan and Somerset bowler Abdur Rehman was suspended for 12 weeks after testing positive for cannabis during a stint in the English county season.
Former speedsters Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who is currently banned for spot-fixing, were found guilty of using the banned steroid nandrolone and subsequently restricted from taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy in India in 2006.
Akhtar and Asif were also dropped from taking part in ICC 2007 World Cup in the West Indies and banned for two and one year respectively.
Former Australian great Shane Warne had been also banned for 12 months just before the 2003 World Cup in South Africa after he was tested positive for a diuretic known as Moduretic.
— Additional reporting by Abdul Ghaffar
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On DawnNews
Comments (92) Closed
Apr 15, 2015 01:08pm
another shame
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Apr 15, 2015 01:13pm
This type of work does not suit his health,
Lol....! What players doing WTH
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Apr 15, 2015 01:13pm
Why does every laboratory have to be in India? What are Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand doing?
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Apr 15, 2015 01:14pm
Following the footsteps of our greats...
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Apr 15, 2015 01:23pm
22 yrs old and look what he is doing. Its good he got caught. Imagine he might not have been caught and these drugs could have caused his death.
He should learn a stern lesson now!!!
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Apr 15, 2015 01:24pm
Banning pakistan from International cricket for a while seems to be the only solution to this growing menace of controversies
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Apr 15, 2015 01:32pm
Raza Hassan, Hamad Azam and Muhammad Sami, All are seen taking drugs So nothing new that's the Major reason PCB do not consider such players for national team anymore.
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Apr 15, 2015 01:34pm
Most probably first thing he will do is deny it . Then others will say it's Indian conspiracy.
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Apr 15, 2015 01:35pm
Why India again. This makes the results doubtfull
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Apr 15, 2015 01:41pm
ANEES FROM ZAIDA@ these samples were taken by Pakistani and not by Indians , if you don't trust Indian lab have a recheck, don't punish your player, legally you are not bounded. finding conspiracy in every thing needs some pause. by the way India is known for medical tourism, much research by american and Japanese companies is done in India ,and check your own market you will know strength of Indian pharmaceuticals
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Apr 15, 2015 01:41pm
@anees from zaida Thing is, my friend, the world does not view India like Pakistan or Pakistanis do. This should suggest to you that maybe, just maybe, whatever you might have heard or assumed of India, might be wrong.
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Apr 15, 2015 01:43pm
Theres a reason for taking two samples! A course in probability would explain this to the PCB.
They should wait for the result of the second one before announcing to the world...
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Apr 15, 2015 01:44pm
get someone else chance and get rid him off.
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Apr 15, 2015 01:47pm
@Emanuelle - "Banning pakistan"??? No need to spew hatred!
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Apr 15, 2015 01:49pm
@Mudassar - Silly comment. Its an accredited laboratory.
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Apr 15, 2015 01:52pm
Well done PCB. Shows we are not so bad after all. It is better to catch them and Ban them now before they become STARS and are banned. Banning him means Opening door for other deserving cricketer.
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Apr 15, 2015 01:53pm
conspiracy against pakistan?????;)
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Apr 15, 2015 01:54pm
@Shobhit - What's giving credit to "world view" got to do with this? It's Pakistan that chose to send tests to India.
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Apr 15, 2015 01:57pm
@Harmony Another feather in cap of Pakistan cricket team
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Apr 15, 2015 02:02pm
@Shobhit - What's giving credit to "world view" got to do with this? It’s Pakistan that chose to send tests to India.
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Apr 15, 2015 02:06pm
Why is he wasting so much cocaine on his face? They don't even have proper training to do drugs properly.. forget their cricketing skills.
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Apr 15, 2015 02:11pm
Is he a Pakistani he doesn't look like one. Shame on him! PCB is corrupted they can not handle their players
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Apr 15, 2015 02:16pm
expensive drug... hows he even affording cocaine.
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Apr 15, 2015 02:31pm
@anees from zaida it is boz India is world's top country in medical services. One more thing, it was a random sample taking done by PCB as ICC instructed. India did not know which sample belongs to whome. Unfortunately, the sample of this addict guy was found positive and our laboratory informed the same to your board. Then your board found that this particular sample belongs to 22 years old hasan who is an addict in all the means. It is never to a laboratory which sample belongs to whom when samples are sent in bulk. You will never know this bcoz you haven't seen the world medical services. Congrats for achieving yet another mile stone in cricket. But salute to PCB which came into the matter immediately.
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Apr 15, 2015 02:34pm
Most cricketers take some kind of drug during their career. Some do it more than others. Some get caught most don't. Shane Warne? Botham? Flemming? Wasim? Waqar? and many others who never were caught.
Drug problem is in every sport. It's just that most don't get caught. Lance Armstrong was king of drugs but he never got caught for most of his illustrious career.
I don't know why it's more wrong when Pakistanis do it and not wrong when others do it. When Pakistanis do it everyone wants to spread it like wild wire when others do it everyone tries their best to make them look innocent and shove everything under the carpet.
Please search the internet to find more about Drug problem in every sphere of life and especially sports.
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Apr 15, 2015 02:37pm
Life ban
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Apr 15, 2015 02:42pm
@Saad I was expecting this kind of response from at least one of the readers....& you have not disappointed me...!!
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Apr 15, 2015 02:46pm
@anees from zaida Why not in Pakistan. For your kind information India is nearer to your country not Australia, England or etc.
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Apr 15, 2015 02:46pm
Bohat Tight...You line and length will never get right. You and all like you deserve only lifetime ban....no wonder what will do if happen to play international cricket..
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Apr 15, 2015 02:48pm
Cocaine is not even a performance enhancing drug..what was he thinking?
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Apr 15, 2015 02:50pm
@faisal - Why are you so angry? Who said anything about trust or no trust in India? And no need to tell me what is done in India. There are better sources to learn about that. You don't need to point out.
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Apr 15, 2015 03:00pm
Aren't recreational drugs allowed?
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Apr 15, 2015 03:00pm
@Anon :"Theres a reason for taking two samples! A course in probability would explain this to the PCB"- know before you comments. The A and B samples are drawn from the same sample vessel of urine or blood but only partitioned for refereeing purposes. So these samples are neither mutually exclusive nor independent. If one reports positive the other should report positive if these samples have not been tampered.
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Apr 15, 2015 03:06pm
@anees from zaida
Because there is something called technology
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Apr 15, 2015 03:12pm
Catching using drugs is not new in sports. Over here in North America, many got caught using drugs and paid a very heavy penalty for their doings. It's good, he got caught before he destroyed himself and perhaps other too along the way. And stop this nonsense about as why India ? It's time to grow up people.
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Apr 15, 2015 03:25pm
He is a man battling addiction .Leave him alone for some time.
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Apr 15, 2015 03:39pm
Another irresponsible person in the making.
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Apr 15, 2015 03:57pm
@sandeep - Thanks! At least it makes happy!
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Apr 15, 2015 04:03pm
He deserves more than a two year ban, at least a five year ban is needed.
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Apr 15, 2015 04:10pm
@Emanuelle
you must be thick suggesting to ban Pakistan from world cricket.
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Apr 15, 2015 04:11pm
@anees from zaida : Becuase you need money to set up these laboratories. It's not free!!
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Apr 15, 2015 04:18pm
Youth of this age group using such drugs are quite prevalent in all sectors of the society both in Pakistan and outside Pakistan. I will consider this as general anti-social issue rather than cricket issue. I agree, lots of other young cricketers are in this trend as well, they are not yet caught. Just go to any college and enquire about the prevalence of this ill-habit. Just like any other youth of his cohort, Hassan Raza also needs help and support and awareness for all youth about the ill effects.
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Apr 15, 2015 04:19pm
Better to fix issues at home than the international arena.
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Apr 15, 2015 04:48pm
@EMANUELLE, well in every team there are controversies, and there are many players in the history of not just this game but also other games like football, tennis etc facing controversies.. But does that mean to ban that particular country from playing any more game?, Why are you so after pakistan, pakistan is going good and cricket is incomplete without pakistan, its the fourth best test team in the world at the moment, just one point behind the third one, so don't underestimate pakistan!
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Apr 15, 2015 04:49pm
@Emanuelle Yeah that seems to be the goal!
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Apr 15, 2015 04:52pm
By the way cocaine is not a performance enhancing drug for a cricketer, for a singer maybe!, than why is it banned? It's similar to someone enjoying a smoke. If it is against the law than the police can look into it.
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Apr 15, 2015 05:04pm
@Indian - Great logic ! It means countries like Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand have no money?
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Apr 15, 2015 05:19pm
That's bad kid, you were a wonderful prospect for Pakistan after Saeed.
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Apr 15, 2015 05:27pm
Shane Warne is the role model for spinners
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Apr 15, 2015 05:36pm
why shane warne was banned using moduretic? some 1 explain...
moduretic is not a performance enhancing
drug...is a most prescribed diuretic in the world& essential drug for treatment of heart,lever,kidney problems,hypertension, swealings....
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Apr 15, 2015 05:50pm
@Pankaj Tiwari Absolutely agreed with you! the laboratory does not know the blood sample whom it may belongs to. Furthermore, if it appears positive than there should not be any secret to unfold the reality. PCB has done the great job of taking immediate action against it.
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Apr 15, 2015 05:57pm
Wasim and waqar were caught doing cocaine on the beaches of West Indies in their era and yet this kid is singled out by PCB?
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Apr 15, 2015 06:07pm
Not much 'positive' about Pakistan cricket these days
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Apr 15, 2015 06:37pm
What a pity....he is so young...and he decided to play with his future...Pakistan team need
very serious attention on character building and education on these dangerous things.
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Apr 15, 2015 06:44pm
why is it that so many national circuit players are mostly lacking characteristic features of a sportsman lately? drugs, cheating, fixing, attitude problems, and above all lack of visible competitive skill on international level. There seems that to be a problem with the board and its selective/coaching/managing bodies that end up getting such 'talent' into the mix SO often.
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Apr 15, 2015 06:44pm
I don't it for a second that NONE of Indian n players don't do drugs. It's just not possible.
Well done Pakistan for catching these culprits on time.
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Apr 15, 2015 07:19pm
@anees from zaida : Yes, there are labs in the other countries. But PCB chose to send it to Indian lab, you have to ask them the reason. May be it is economical.. ( may be money crunch?)
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Apr 15, 2015 07:34pm
Cocaine was a prescribed medication in USA once. This may have been one of the component of some medicine.
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Apr 15, 2015 07:38pm
@Harmony Its your own Countrymen's questioning of sending the sample to India. Maybe you did not get it, I meant that the "the world" and WADA trusts us to be trustworthy and resourceful enough, the Pakistanis do not.
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Apr 15, 2015 07:44pm
Raza Hassan would've been our first or second choice after Saeed Ajmal. Yasir shah has yet to establish himself in the team. Plus Raza had also shown some promise with the bat as well. I am extremely disappointed to say the least!
Ali Khan
Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM
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Apr 15, 2015 08:10pm
With all due respect, I will not trust any test results coming from India.
Elements within Indian cricket and politics have been known to hatch plans to corner out Pakistan through economic detriment by way of supporting and training terrorists from Afghani soil and gaining consequentially from the investors getting out of Pakistan. Its interesting that their next market is suddenly India.
I am not against India people, I disagree with their foreign policy and known actions which they continually deny. Likewise, Pakistan needs show some clear dimension. Why cant we have a Wada doping centre in Pakistan ? and why are our players getting testing in a country when the element of trust is non-existent at the base level.
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Apr 15, 2015 08:12pm
@Shobhit - I did "get it" my own Countrymen's questioning and I answered them just as I answered your boastful opinion.
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Apr 15, 2015 08:54pm
It's easy to blame rather being investigated by an expert of drug tests in our country. Being a Medical Toxicologist I can assure that as simple as "Amoxicillin" can cause false positive (detection of positive test, while it's not true). I personally believe that board must sent his samples for GC-MS before jumping to any conclusion. Those of you who are interested can read this professional article http://dig.pharm.uic.edu/faq/2011/Feb/faq1.aspx
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Apr 15, 2015 09:36pm
Cocaine is more serious than what Shane Warne, Abdur Rehman took or even steroids. They should educate players more on dangers of drugs, Alcohol, and corruption and mafias.
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Apr 15, 2015 10:34pm
Is Cocaine new in Pakistan? It has been there for ever. Today the social structure has changed a lot. Morality is nowhere to be found existing. Greed, arrogance is topping its peaks and the youngsters both male and females are engaged in all kind of immoral activities. Such a shame to read this news.
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Apr 15, 2015 11:02pm
Make a example of him.
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Apr 15, 2015 11:25pm
He should be banned for life.
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Apr 15, 2015 11:35pm
@Mudassar
Because Pakistan can test file missiles but does not have a lab!
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Apr 15, 2015 11:36pm
@anees from zaida Cost effective and credible. Pakistan could be cost effective but not credible
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Apr 16, 2015 12:00am
@Emanuelle No that is not a solution. Why punish a country for few people. PCB should try to rehablitate him .
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Apr 16, 2015 12:02am
@anees from zaida Because India is much much ahead in medical technology.
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Apr 16, 2015 12:07am
@KG And as of now PCB dont have transport fund to send it to Aus/NZ/UK
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Apr 16, 2015 12:22am
Once a fool gets his hands on a lot of money he finds a way to go wrong. Personally speaking sports figures can use all the drugs they want once their careers are over. They owe it to teammates, friends, family fans and even themselves not to let this happen. If thrown out of the sport where is this guy going to earn that kind of money again?
In the National Basketball Association 30 years back two starting (back court) guards were partying and using cocaine. They thought they were playing better basketball when the rest of the team saw them as playing out of sink with the three other starting front court players.
My advice to professional athletes is never get involved with a girlfriend who is a cocaine user, and using your money to support her habit.
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Apr 16, 2015 01:13am
At least 5 years ban for this doper
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Apr 16, 2015 04:49am
@Emanuelle:
I agree with you...ban Pakistan Cricket Team for at least 2 years.
And players for 5 years.
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Apr 16, 2015 05:12am
What a great tragedy?
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Apr 16, 2015 06:12am
Somebody someplace has found another matter to create a molehill !
A good ploy to get people distracted from realities, like say how
the team lost an ODI by one wicket with a full strength team in Dhaka
today. There are other matters to be swept under the rug. Who says
we are not upto it. WOW , good going . . . . . .
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Apr 16, 2015 06:33am
@Sunil USA
The only reason foreign pharma companies have outsourced lab testing and some limited research facilities in India is due to cheap labor costs while denying Indian employees perks and health benefits vs employees in the West. So the bottom line is the cheaper the employee cost, the higher profit margin for foreign pharma companies who outsource to countries like India and the Philippines.
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Apr 16, 2015 07:11am
Cocaine on his face brings out the color of his teeth
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Apr 16, 2015 07:15am
It is good for this chap that he has been tested positive, he is a very young player and now he has the chances to get rid of drugs encourange him to leave it .
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Apr 16, 2015 07:19am
Its a shame the sample was sent to India and not to our local Hamdard Laboratories.
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Apr 16, 2015 09:11am
oh the infamous "Foreign Hand"... everything and every problem is because of "foreign Hand" right? there is no "domestic hand" at work?
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Apr 16, 2015 09:12am
foreigh hand? all prblems because of the stupid excuse of "foreign hand"
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Apr 16, 2015 10:11am
Looking at the picture, this comes as no surprise
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Apr 16, 2015 11:09am
Shabash khiladi! No sport should involve extraordinary amount of money, freaking corporate world killing everything.
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Apr 16, 2015 11:12am
I am a Medical review officer, a doctor specializing in drug tests, interpretation and explanation.
Illegal performance enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids and illegal drugs of addiction like Marijuana, Amphetamines, Cocaine, PCP, Opiods.
Cocaine is highly addictive, an alternative explanations for positive test is following ENT surgery or TAC used as anesthetic. proof
Two kinds of tests, strips in a cup turn positive when urine is added, suggestive, not definitive, some false positive readings.
The gold standard test done in lab, urine is split into bottles A and B, its anonymous, no names, just numbers. Tube A is tested to a level, above level is positive. State of the art gas chromatography mass spectrometry testing.
The bottle B tested if A is positive, and donor requests, it is to to the limit of detection, any amount is positive.
Any lab like the one in India has to go through rigorous proficiency testing, would be considered highly reliable and beyond suspicion.
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Apr 16, 2015 11:48am
Look at the pic in the news article! he seems to have dunked his head in the dope!!
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Apr 16, 2015 01:16pm
What a waste
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Apr 16, 2015 02:13pm
@DR. SHAZIA : Do you mean to say that labs were not set up in Pakisthan due to very high labour cost like western countries? Strange indeed!
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Apr 16, 2015 02:25pm
@anees from zaida All these countries have labs. India is the closest and cheapest!!
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Apr 16, 2015 04:54pm
@ABL
please don't justify it.
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Apr 17, 2015 09:14pm
Politics and corruption in PCB board forces players to take drastic steps in there career to show there performance.There should be inquiry on why players are going to this extent.Senior player and Councillor should guide them from taking wrong path. I hope he has learned his lesson and other will also learn from his mistake.
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