Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was banned for two years and teammate Mohammad Asif for one year after they tested positive for a banned steroid, an official said Wednesday.

A three-member doping tribunal appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ruled the pace pair out of all international and domestic cricket following hours of deliberations in the eastern city of Lahore.

Akhtar, 31, and Asif, 23, were sent home in disgrace from the Champions Trophy in India on October 16 after the PCB said the performance-enhancing drug nandrolone had appeared in their samples.

The pair, now set to miss next year's World Cup, insisted they did not take any banned substances knowingly, but they waived their rights to have their 'B samples' tested.

The doping scandal is international cricket's first involving performance-enhancing drugs and Asif's ban is the heaviest ever for drugs in cricket.

"We gave a full chance to both the pacemen to fight their cases and after a thorough inquiry we feel they failed to prove their innocence," tribunal chief Shahid Hamid told reporters.

"The process of doping was investigated carefully. We made sure the tests were conducted properly, samples reached the laboratory in Malaysia safely and there was no error in testing in the laboratory.

"Both the players were satisfied and accepted the tests and gave their point of view but after a thorough inquiry and bound by the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) we reached the decision," said Hamid, a former governor of Punjab province.

"The two players are banned from representing Pakistan in any international match, cannot play in a domestic match under the auspices of the PCB, cannot take any monetary gains and cannot hold any official posts."

The pair can appeal the decision either with the same tribunal within seven days; with a different committee appointed by the PCB within 30 days; or with the sports court of arbitration in Lausanne, Switzerland, officials said.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, physiotherapist Darryn Lifson and trainer Murray Stevenson appeared before the tribunal on Wednesday to give evidence about how the bowlers tested positive.

"Akhtar contested the case saying that he has been on a high-protein diet which contained beef, chicken meat and other dietary supplements and he also said he took some herbal medicines from a Hakim (herbal expert) but he couldn't prove them," Hamid added.

"Asif's case was different.... Pakistan physician Darryn Lifson confirmed he stopped him from taking a banned substance a few months back," said Hamid.

The ban may effectively end 31-year-old Akhtar's mercurial career, which has been marked by controversy over his bowling action controversy, indiscipline, injuries and ball tampering.

It is cricket's highest profile doping case since Australia's legendary leg-spinner Shanen Warne was banned for a year in 2003 after testing positive for a diuretic.

Akhtar, who has taken 165 wickets in 42 Tests and 133 in 208 one-day internationals, is famously known as the "Rawalpindi Express" for his pace and for his home town.

He launched the fastest electronically measured ball ever bowled -- at a speed of 100.23mph (161.3kmh) -- against England in February 2003 at the World Cup in South Africa.

The 23-year-old Asif, whose career took off early this year before being held up by injuries, has 30 wickets in six Tests and 19 in 17 limited overs international.

The bans cap a bitter few months for Pakistan after they forfeited a Test match for the first time in history at the Oval in August in a row over ball-tampering.

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was banned for four one-dayers for bringing the game into disrepute through his actions at the Oval, and there have been musical chairs in both the captaincy and the PCB chairmanship since.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)