LAHORE, Dec 17: The Indian Premier League (IPL), on the request of Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Asif has agreed to hear his appeal against his positive doping test at a neutral venue in London on Jan 24.

Dope-tainted Asif, had tested positive during the first edition of the IPL held in India in April this year. Asif had challenged the test report and went to Switzerland to test the B-sample of urine. The B-sample report, though admitted the banned nandrolone was found in the urine, but it was of less quantity as was mentioned in the A-sample report.

On that basis, Asif had challenged the IPL first report.

Earlier, Asif had to go India on Nov 29 to defend his case before the IPL, but Mumbai attacks on Nov 26 cancelled the proceedings.

AFP adds: Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif will face an Indian doping tribunal in London next month after the hearing was shifted to a neutral venue at the fast bowler’s request, his lawyer said Wednesday.

The tribunal will quiz Asif about the outcome of the test result and could ban him from all cricket for two years.

It comes after a first hearing held in October proved inconclusive and the next one set for November 29 had to be put off due to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Asif’s lawyer Shahid Karim said the IPL tribunal agreed to shift the hearing.

“We requested to IPL tribunal that since there has been a delay in the proceedings due to the aftermath of the Mumbai incidents, it should be shifted to a neutral venue, so it will now be held on January 24 in London,” Karim told AFP.

The tribunal comprises former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Bapat, the former vice chancellor of India’s Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, and lawyer Shirish Gupte.

After Asif’s A sample tested positive in July, his B sample also tested positive for nandrolone a month later, but his lawyer says a disparity with the quantity found in the two samples has given Asif confidence to win the case.

The fast bowler also tested positive for nandrolone in 2006, along with fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar.

Asif further faces a possible ban or fine from the Pakistan Cricket Board after he was detained in Dubai while returning from the IPL on charges of possessing an illegal drug.

He was held for 19 days before police deported him.