Pakistan to hear female sprinters` doping appeals

Islamabad: Pakistan`s sporting authorities announced today that a three-member committee would hear appeals this week from two female sprinters who were banned after failing dope tests.

Sadaf Siddiqui, who represented Pakistan in the 100 metres in the 2008 Olympics, and Javeria Hassan, a fast rising 100 and 200-metre sprinter, were banned for two years after failing tests during national trials in May. Both were due to compete in October`s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and in the Asian Games in China a month later.Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) spokesman Faik Ali said a three-member committee would hear the appeals on Thursday in the eastern city of Lahore. Both athletes have pleaded their innocence, claiming not to have taken willfully any performance-enhancing substances, said Ali.Pakistan is due to send a 75-member contingent for the Commonwealth Games scheduled in India October 3-14. PTI