|
  |
|
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warne fails drug test
By Craig Francis
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Legendary Australian spin bowler Shane Warne has been ruled out of cricket's World Cup for taking a banned substance. Warne was expected to fly out of South Africa, the co-host of the tournament, later Tuesday. Australian Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive James Sutherland told a news conference that Warne had asked to go home after testing positive for diuretics. "I took a fluid reduction tablet ... which I did not know contained a prohibited substance," a grim-faced Warne told a press conference shortly before Australia's opening game. "I'm shocked and absolutely devastated because I didn't take performance enhancing drugs. I never have and don't condone them in any shape or form." His withdrawal will be a major blow to the 33-year-old Victorian who had earmarked the World Cup as his limited overs cricket swansong in a bid to lengthen his Test career. The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said a banned diuretic was taken inadvertently during his recuperation from a shoulder injury that threatened to keep the leg spinner out of the World Cup. It was detected during a routine drug test by the ACB. Diuretics can be used to assist weight loss or as a masking agent to prevent the detection of other drugs. Rated by cricketing bible Wisden as one of the top five players of the century, Warne made a surprisingly quick recovery from a dislocated shoulder injury incurred attempting a catch in a December 15 one-day match against England. Warne said he was told Monday by Australia's Sport Drugs Agency about his failed test and immediately informed the ACB. Sutherland said Warne would fly back to Australia on Tuesday for a test on the B sample and if that proved negative, he could still return to the World Cup, Reuters news agency reported. The loss of arguably the game's biggest name comes as a blow to a World Cup already embroiled in controversy. Boycotts and threatened forfeitures of games in Kenya and Zimbabwe have marred the lead-up to the event. New Zealand has pulled out of its game in Kenya over fears of a possible terrorist attack. England, due to take on Zimbabwe in Harare on Thursday, are still yet to announce officially whether or not they will play in Zimbabwe. The side has come under pressure from the British government to pull out of the contest in protest at the regime of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been reluctant to heed their government's requests, arguing it has contractual obligations to fulfill and that cricket should not be forced to make a stand when no other British businesses have been urged to do so. The bulk of the matches in the 14-nation tournament are taking part in South Africa. Trouble magnetWarne has become familiar with headlines centering on issues other than his sporting prowess. In 2000, the married cricket star had to endure the embarrassing revelations of an English tabloid that revealed he had left sexually offensive phone messages with a 22-year-old nurse who had earlier turned down his amorous advances. In 1999, after struggling with form and weight problems, Warne was in the spotlight for grabbing a camera from a youth who photographed him smoking. Warne managed to retain A$200,000 (U.S.$128,000) paid by a sponsor for staying off the cigarettes despite being caught out smoking three days before the deal was due to end. In 1995, the ACB fined Warne and teammate Mark Waugh for providing information to an Indian bookmaker during Australia's 1994 tour of Sri Lanka. The case was covered up by the ACB until 1998, despite the sport being plagued by a match-fixing crisis. Regardless of the latest chapter in Warne's brilliant but flawed career, Australia remains the betting favorite to win the World Cup. Australian-based Online betting agency Centrebet has defending champions Australia installed as favorite paying $2.60 for a win, compared with South Africa at $3.60 and India and Pakistan equal third favorites at $7.00. Warne has taken 491 wickets in 107 tests at an average of 25.71. He has 291 wickets in one-dayers at 25.82.
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
