Pakistani wrestler, Ali Asad, on Tuesday, September 3 was handed a ban after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The news was confirmed by the Pakistan Wrestling Federation as they also confirmed that the wrestler is also stripped off his bronze medal, which he won at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
The Pakistan athlete has been handed four years ban after his results came out positive. “His tests carried out by the International Testing Agency (ITA) have confirmed he took performance enhancing drugs during the event,” one official was quoted. Moreover, it is to be noted that the ruling came following the ITA’s investigation, the official also added that it came after the wrestler waived his right to a hearing.
Notably, the CWG 2022 bronze medallist did not respond to the allegations withing the given deadline and thus joined the four other weightlifters, who were suspended by the International Wrestling Federation (IWF) for anti-doping violations.
Abdur Rehman, Sharjeel Butt, Ghulam Mustafa and Farhan Amjad were handed ban in 2022 after they refused to give samples to the ITA in November 2021. They went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to defend themselves but continued serving the suspension. Top two weightlifters, Olympian Talha Talib and Abu Bakar Ghani were also banned for two years.