Former Western Australian fast bowler Duncan Spencer believes that if Shoaib Akhtar is hit only with a fine for testing positive to nandrolone, he will be escaping from the controversy far too lightly.
Spencer was banned for 18 months six years ago for taking the same steroid during a period of semi-retirement after four back operations curtailed his career.
.jpg)
"I got 18 months and my case is a lot different to his (Shoaib's) because I wasn't playing and mine was for quality of life – I had to do labouring work," Spencer told the Herald Sun.
He also revealed there is no doubt that taking nandrolone would have helped Shoaib recover more rapidly after undergoing knee surgery.
"It does help – there's no doubt. Steroids make you body recover quicker," he said.
Meanwhile, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting refused to weigh into the debate, preferring not to divulge his opinion on a matter he has little real knowledge about.
"It caught us all a bit off guard," he said.
"I don't think any of us know enough about it yet to say if we show any sympathy towards them or not."
