UAE Cricketer Asif Khan Handed 15-Month Ban After Breaching ICC Anti-Doping Rules
UAE cricketer Asif Khan has received a 15-month ban from the ICC for breaching its Anti-Doping Code. The 35-year-old tested positive for a metabolite of mesterolone during an out-of-competition test on September 8, 2025. His sanction is effective from that date, and all individual results until December 29, 2025, have been disqualified.
In a significant development for UAE cricket, opening batter Asif Khan has accepted a 15-month period of ineligibility for breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Doping Code. The sanction comes after the 35-year-old tested positive for a prohibited substance, a metabolite of mesterolone, during an out-of-competition test conducted on September 8, 2025. Khan admitted to violating Article 2.1 of the ICC Anti-Doping Code and agreed to the sanction through a Case Resolution Agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the ICC. Deeban Lingesh Takes Hat-Trick off First Three Balls of an Innings in TNPL 2026.
ICC Sanctions Asif Khan
UAE batter Asif Khan has been sanctioned for violating the ICC Anti-Doping Code.https://t.co/vBts01jxd8
— ICC (@ICC) August 27, 2026
Details of the Sanction
The ban has been backdated to September 8, 2025, the date of his sample collection. This means Asif Khan's period of ineligibility will conclude on December 7, 2026.
Under the terms of the ICC Anti-Doping Code and the Case Resolution Agreement, Khan will be permitted to return to training with a team or use the facilities of an ICC Member organisation from October 8, 2026. He will become eligible to play competitive cricket again starting December 8, 2026.
Disqualification of Past Results
All of Asif Khan's individual results from September 8, 2025, the date of his positive test, until his provisional suspension on December 29, 2025, have been disqualified. This includes the forfeiture of any medals, points, prize money, or prizes obtained during this period. The Case Resolution Agreement provides no right of appeal. Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule Announced for Men’s and Women’s Teams.
What is Mesterolone?
Mesterolone is an anabolic androgenic steroid, classified as a prohibited substance under the WADA Prohibited List. Its use is banned in sports due to its performance-enhancing properties. Athletes are solely responsible for any prohibited substance found in their samples, regardless of how it entered their system. The ICC's Anti-Doping Code is designed to protect the integrity of the sport and ensure a level playing field for all competitors.
This sanction serves as a stark reminder of the strict liability principle applied in anti-doping regulations, emphasizing the need for athletes to be vigilant about all substances they consume. Asif Khan, a prominent figure in UAE cricket known for his explosive batting, will now look towards his return to the field at the end of 2026.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 27, 2026 12:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
