I have not consumed any prohibited substance: Rehman

Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who is facing a two-year ban after testing positive in England, on Tuesday claimed that he has not consumed any prohibited medicines or substances which could lead to his sanctioning.

"Frankly speaking I really don't know how this test has come positive because I don't remember taking any medicines or prohibited items that might contain banned substances," Rehman said from London.

The Test spinner will know soon whether he can continue playing in England for Somerset in the county championship or will have to face a ban after he returned positive in a dope test carried out there.

"People are talking about a two year ban but from what I know even if they ban me it should not be for more than two months since I have not used any performance enhancing substances," Rehman said.

The Sialkot-born spinner has made a big impact for his county, taking nine wickets in an innings in one match and is their leading wicket-taker in all forms of the game.

Rehman was overlooked by the Pakistani selectors for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka and this prompted him to sign a deal with Somerset. The selectors preferred young Raza Hasan over him for the World Twenty20.

A Pakistan Cricket Board official when contacted declined to comment on the issue.

"We are waiting for a detailed report from the England and Wales Cricket Board on the matter. All we know now is he has failed a dope test," the official said.

He said once the ECB sends a detailed report, the Board would be in a better position to comment on the matter.

"But obviously it is disappointing for us," he added.

Rehman, 32, has played 17 Tests and 25 ODIs for Pakistan.

According to ICC regulations, if any member country bans a player for any doping offence than his home Board has to also enforce the same decision.

In the past, Pakistani fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have also tested positive in dope tests in 2006.

Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images