Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar Monday protested his innocence of doping charges and said he would never cheat.

"I cannot say much at this time about what has happened but I just want to assure everyone that I am innocent of doing anything I shouldn't have," he said in his diary on the Bigstarcricket.com website.

Pakistan recalled Akhtar and fellow paceman Mohammad Asif from the Champions Trophy in India on Monday after they tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.

Akhtar said Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, the patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), had asked him not to make any detailed comments on the matter and he wanted to respect his wishes.

"All I can say is that I have not knowingly taken any performance enhancing drugs and would never cheat my team-mates or opponents in this way," said Akhtar in the diary.

"I have always played the game fair and I give 100 percent and do not feel that I need to take drugs to help my bowling.

"I am gutted to be missing the Champions Trophy and I will return to Pakistan to see what has happened and what needs to be done. That's all I have to say for now."

Akhtar's personal doctor also said the fast bowler was innocent of doping and added that he likely tested positive because of medicine he took to recover from injury.

Pakistan has no current system for doping offences but will set up a tribunal to decide how to punish Akhtar and Asif, PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters Monday.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)