LAHORE, Pakistan – A three-man committee of Pakistan’s sports board on Monday issued two-year bans to three cyclists and two bodybuilders over failed dope tests.

“We heard the case of these cyclists and bodybuilders and since they failed dope tests and confessed to their offenses, we have banned them for two years each,” Pakistan Sports Board director-general Ameer Hamza Gillani told reporters after hearing the cases against all five.

Cyclists Noor Alam, Dilsher Ali and Zahid Gulfam and bodybuilders Imran Qureshi and Jawwad Ali appeared before the three-man committee on Monday before the decision was announced.

Last year Pakistan banned seven athletes, including two female sprinters, for two years each over doping.

Gillani said the punishments would send a message to the players that doping was unacceptable in sport.

“We have a zero tolerance against doping and hope that after getting this punishment these players will learn a lesson,” said Gillani.

Article:AFP