Pak spinner Rehman withdrawn from Sialkot Stallions after failing 'drug test'

Johannesburg, Oct.3 (ANI): Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman has been withdrawn from the Sialkot Stallions squad for the upcoming Champions League tournament in South Africa after failing a drug test while playing for Somerset, according to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official.

"We have withdrawn Rehman's name from the list after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) informed us that he had tested positive in a dope test taken in August after a county match," Sports24 quoted a PCB official, who didn't wished to be named, as saying.

The official said the PCB had asked for more details from the ECB and would support any penalty imposed on Rehman.

"Rehman has returned to Pakistan and from what we know his samples came back positive," the official said.

The official said that under the rules of the World Anti- Doping Agency (WADA), the test results were only released to the player and his home board, which was the ECB at that time.

Meanwhile, Rehman told a Pakistani TV channel he did not know why he had failed the dope test, as he had taken no banned substances or drugs.

"I don't know what has happened. I am also in the dark as I don't use medicines or substances," Rehman said.

Pakistani fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif also failed dope tests at the 2006 Champions Trophy. (ANI)