24 Aug 2010

Pakistan athletes banned for doping

8:35 am on 24 August 2010

Seven Pakistan track and field athletes have been banned for two years each after failing doping tests in the national championships in Islamabad last month.

The secretary of the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation Khalid Mehmood says the athletes could still appeal against their bans.

He says eight athletes had failed the tests but women's 1,500 metres runner Samira Zahoor had not attended a hearing held by Pakistan's anti-doping commission.

Men's javelin thrower Muhammad Imran, who is due to compete in the Delhi Commonwealth Games next month, is one of the banned athletes.

The others are: Rozina Shafqat (women's high jump), Nadia Nazir (women's 400 metres hurdles), Shagufta Naureen (women's 5,000 metres), Zahra Razzak (women's pole vault), Asif Javed (men's 200 metres) and Mohammad Waseem (men's shot put).