Modi: IPL Controversies Not A Suprise

Modi - Trying To Calm The Situation.

Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi has played down recent controversies in the competition following Mohammad Asif's failed drugs test.

The revelation that Pakistan fast bowler Asif had tested positive for a banned substance during the IPL comes on the back of stories such as the Harbhajan Singh slapping incident and the endless debate of whether the proliferation of Twenty20 cricket is good for the game.

"With a venture of this magnitude, there are bound to be controversies," Modi told the Daily News & Analysis. "Our job is to address and solve them in the best possible way."

Modi said the law would now take its course in the case of Asif.

"There is a set procedure for those who fail dope tests," he said.

"The law will take its course."

Modi insisted the IPL had not attempted to hide the identity of the player, although they received a letter from the World Anti-Doping Agency laboratory at least a day before the news broke in the media.

"The report was leaked before we tried to make it public," Modi said.

"We received the report only two days ago and we were trying to ascertain the candidate.

"We had to match the report with the data collected by IDTM (the Swiss agency which collected the samples) to identify the player.

"We also had to ascertain if the player was granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the drug. It's a time-consuming process."