Search for the Rare Decay B→πl+l-

We have performed a search for the flavor-changing neutral-current decays B→πℓ+ℓ-, where ℓ+ℓ- is either e+e- or μ+μ-, using a sample of 230×106 Υ(4S)→BB̅ decays collected with the BABAR detector. We observe no evidence of a signal and measure the upper limit on the isospin-averaged branching fraction to be B(B→πℓ+ℓ-)<9.1×10-8 at 90% confidence level. We also search for the lepton-flavor-violating decays B→πe±μ∓ and measure an upper limit on the isospin-averaged branching fraction of B(B→πe±μ∓)<9.2×10-8 at 90% confidence level.