D.0 C.

Followus: HOME

INDIA WORLD MONEY ENTERTAINMENT SPEAK UP HEALTH SCI/TECH

Today's Epaper | Subscribe to newspaper

ANALYSIS

MUMBAI

SPORT

ACADEMY

LIFESTYLE

AUTHORS Search

HOTTOPICS: JAGAN REDDY | DNA INVESTIGATIONS | HOSNI MUBARAK You are here: HOME > SPORT > Report

Viv took drugs: Qasim Umar

Published: Friday, Aug 21, 2009, 0:12 IST Place: Karachi | Agency: ANI

Quiz
Which Barcelona striker will miss the Euro 2012?

Speak Up
In a startling revelation, former Pakistan cricketer Qasim Umar has claimed that former West Indies captain Vivian Richards used to take performance enhancement drugs before the new anti-doping regulations were enforced by the ICC. Appearing on television talk show on Thursday, Umar, a controversial figure in Pakistan cricket, said Richards had himself confessed to him that he used to take drugs to release tension and improve his stamina and endurance levels. Use of drugs was common among many players and they used to transport these drugs in their kit bags, Umar said. He had also accused former Pakistan captain Imran Khan and other players of using their kit bags to transport drugs to the United Kingdom. and was subsequently banned for life by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Umars accusation had led to the customs authorities at the Heathrow airport unleash sniffer dogs on the Pakistan team when they landed for a Test tour in 1987. I spoke the truth and I was penalised for it and my career was destroyed. But I stand by what I said. Players did use drugs and they transported them frequently in their kit bags, he said. I know of players who used and carried drugs. This was common until anti-doping laws became more stringent in international cricket and drugs cheats were caught, he added. Umar recalled that on the 1993 tour to the West Indies, four Pakistani players only escaped a criminal trial in Grenada after they were arrested for smoking marijuana only because the cricket authorities back home told their West Indies counterparts that they would call back the team if the players were prosecuted. The West Indies board relented because they faced financial problems. Umar also blasted the PCB for failing to deliver the goods. Honest and straight forward people cant survive in Pakistan cricket which is perhaps the worst cricket system in the world. I spoke the truth and my career ended, he said. He pointed out that the board was not properly utilising the services of former greats.
Studs and duds of the week

Related links
Navjot Singh Sidhu hails Cong for nominating Sachin Tendulkar to RS Nitin Gadkari welcomes Sachin Tendulkar's new innings as Rajya Sabha MP Sachin Tendulkar as Rajya Sabha MP evokes mixed response from fans Dhoni calls for renewal of IndoPak bilateral relations Rohit Sharma gives India 'A' lead against West Indies 'A' Sachin Tendulkar begins new innings, takes guard as MP

Another army chief, another controversy

Interview
Winning title is good, holding on to it even better: Viswanathan Anand
View more interviews

Blogs
The inner sanctum of Shah Rukh Khan - Jayeeta
Mazumder

Gallery

View more blogs

Opinion
Spain is in 'total emergency', the EU in total denial Communists caught in time warp, bloodlust still rules Disciplining traffic Video

Dhoni calls for renewal of Indo-Pak bilateral relations

Share

Tweet
Comments| Post a comment| Sharethisarticle| Print| Email

Top stories on DNAIndia.com

Trinamool Congress, NCP come under attack at CWC meet The inner sanctum of Shah Rukh Khan Patch up bid by Team Anna; to join Ramdev protest on August 9 Mali: The world's next jihadi launchpad? Navjot Singh Sidhu hails Cong for nominating Sachin Tendulkar to RS Bihar to submit report to Governor on Ranvir Sena violence Hosni Mubarak gets uniform, prisoner number in jail Kim Kardashian to move in with Kanye West? French Open: Defending champion Li Na knocked out by qualifier Venus transit to be seen in India on Wednesday

Popular content
Most... Viewed Shared Commented

The warring Khans Shah Rukh, Salman come face to face on field? Review: Satyamev Jayate Ep 5 touches draconian tradition of honour killings Should Aamir, Shah Rukh Khan do more than just acting? Why the India growth story is far from over Arvind Kejriwal hits back at Ramdev, says there was no 'protocol' Hope fades for survivors after Nigeria air crash kills 153 Stop wasting time on factionalism: Sonia Gandhi at Congress meet Select CEC, CAG through panel: Advani

Comments|Post a comment

About DNA | Contact Us | Advertise with Us | Subscription | Reprint Rights 2012 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.