Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has blamed his positive drugs test in the Indian Premier League on eye drops prescribed for an inflammatory condition.

Asif was found to have used the banned substance nandrolone during the inaugural edition of the IPL in May last year and was summoned before a drugs panel where he revealed the eye drops had raised the levels of nandrolone in his system. The hearing was adjourned on Saturday, however, and a decision will not be made until Sunday's reserve day at the earliest.

London-based medical expert Michael Graham told Times Now: "Asif has pleaded to using Keratyl eye drops for a medical eye condition. He had an inflammatory eye condition which was impeding his cricket."

He added: "He could not see very well with his left eye and as a consequence of that he required specialised ophthalmic opinion in Pakistan and he had that treatment.

"And, as was known to Asif, it (Keratyl) contained a prohibited substance nandrolone.

"Sadly this showed up in his urine."

The 26-year-old was banned from all forms of cricket by the Pakistan Cricket Board immediately after the adverse test was made public in July.

Asif had requested for his 'B' sample to be tested which also returned a positive result for the drug.

He then appeared before the tribunal on October 11, but the adjudicating members adjourned that meeting without deciding on a verdict and scheduled a second meeting for November 29.

That meeting was postponed due to the Mumbai terror attacks.