Pakistan-born ODI cricketer Asif Khan handed 15-month ban by ICC; here's why

UAE batter Asif Khan has been banned for 15 months after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid during an out-of-competition doping test conducted last year.Asif tested positive for a metabolite of mesterolone in a sample collected on September 8, 2025. Mesterolone is an anabolic steroid used to increase testosterone levels.The 36-year-old admitted to violating Article 2.1 of the ICC Anti-Doping Code and accepted the sanction through a Case Resolution Agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Cricket Council (ICC)."The 36-year-old admitted to a violation of Article 2.1 of the ICC Anti-Doping Code and accepted the sanction through a Case Resolution Agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Cricket Council (ICC)," read a statement from cricket's world governing body.The ban has been backdated to September 8, 2025 and will run until December 7, 2026. Asif will be allowed to resume training with a team or use the facilities of a club or other ICC Member organisation from October 8, but he will only be eligible to return to competitive cricket from December 8."Asif will be permitted to return to training with a team or use the facilities of a club or other ICC Member organisation from October 8, but will only be eligible to return to competitive cricket from December 8," the ICC statement said.The ICC has also disqualified Asif's individual results from September 8, 2025 until the start of his provisional suspension on December 29, 2025."This includes all resulting consequences, such as the loss of any medals, points, prize money or prizes."Asif, who was born in Pakistan and moved to the UAE in 2017, has represented the UAE in 38 ODIs and 56 T20 Internationals since making his international debut in 2022.Before moving to the UAE, the right-handed batter played 32 first-class matches in Pakistan's domestic cricket.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.