Cricket: Pakistan have withdrawn fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from the ICC Champions Trophy after failing tests for performance-enhancing drugs.
The pair were tested internally by the Pakistan Cricket Board as part of their requirements prior to the tournament in India.
Pakistan were due to play their first game against Sri Lanka in Jaipur tomorrow but neither player will now take any part in the competition.
International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed said: "They were tests conducted by the PCB three weeks ago. They do this before each event.
"They weren't recreational drugs but that is all I can say at this stage."
Drugs in sport have become a huge issue in recent years but Speed insisted: "Cricket is generally regarded as a low-risk sport. The risk for cricket would be a player injured taking a substance inadvisedly to come back quickly."
The news comes after a turbulent couple of months for Pakistan cricket following The Oval ball-tampering fiasco, board upheaval and the resignation and re-appointment of Younis Khan as stand-in captain.
Shoaib and Asif are two of Pakistan's most potent weapons and made a huge difference to the side towards the end of the tour of England this summer after overcoming injury.
As a result of the test results, Pakistan have cancelled a training session for this morning and are due to make a statement later this morning.