Anti-doping tribunal bans Warne for 12 months

Shane Warne will appeal an anti-doping tribunal's decision to ban him for 12 months, the high-profile cricketer saying he's the "victim of doping hysteria."

An Australian Cricket Board anti-doping tribunal today suspended Warne from all organised cricket until 10 February 2004 after finding him guilty of taking a banned diuretic.

The sanction was effective from the date Warne was notified by the Australian Sports Drug Agency of his failed doping test.

Warne read from a prepared statement at a packed news conference at the ACB headquarters, saying he was "devastated and very upset" with the tribunal decision.

"I feel that I am a victim of anti-doping hysteria," Warne said. "I want to repeat, I have never taken any performance enhancing drugs and never will."

The 33-year-old legspinner announced on 11 February, hours before Australia opened its World Cup defense in South Africa, that he'd tested positive on 22 January to the banned diuretics hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride.

He has seven days to lodge his appeal.

If the ban is upheld, he won't be returning to the World Cup and will miss test series against the West Indies, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. He hasn't signaled any intent to retire and will probably push for selection for Australia's Ashes tour of England next year.

Australian test captain Steve Waugh said it would be difficult for Warne to come back.

"It is the unknown question, I am sure that Shane will initially say to himself, 'I want to get back in there and back on the field,' but as time goes by his mind will be in different places," Waugh said.

"But it is really his decision, and he has got to have the motivation to continue. To train for 12 months without playing, that has to be very difficult."

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) president John Coates said the case served as a wakeup call to all athletes.

"This is a stark reminder to everyone that you have to know what's inside your body and you're responsible for what you take," Coates said.

Warne didn't reveal his grounds for appeal but, having admitted he took a fluid tablet without checking if it contained any banned substances, he's only likely to be disputing the severity of the punishment.

Warne's attitude will likely upset the World Anti Doping Agency, which was set up to stamp out drugs in sport. WADA chairman Dick Pound said earlier in the week that ignorance wasn't a reasonable excuse for Warne and that a two-year ban was warranted.

The ACB said it was satisfied with the handling of the case against Warne and suspended his ACB contract for the duration of the doping ban.

"The anti-doping committee found that there were no exceptional circumstances which could justify the charge being dismissed," ACB chief executive James Sutherland said.

Warne said he took what he thought to be a simply a fluid tablet, given to him by his mother.

"I did not know it as a diuretic ... I feel a 12-month suspension is a very harsh penalty for not checking what I took with anyone," he said. "It had nothing to do with cricket or trying to mask anything. I had to do with appearance."

Sutherland said the ACB condemned the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports.

"The critical thing is that a decision has been made by an independent committee. We're comfortable with their findings and the process of arriving at that finding. No one is happy about the circumstances."

The sport's highest profile bowler has rallied from career-threatening injuries and sex and bribery scandals in the past.

The tribunal deliberated overnight after hearing from seven witnesses and submissions from Warne's lawyers across eight hours of proceedings on Friday. It could have imposed a two-year ban.

However, the lesser penalty was decided after the ACB's anti-doping control officer, Dr. Peter Harcourt, testified that Warne had cooperated with investigations, there was no evidence of steroids and there was no evidence that the cricketer would have benefited from steroids

Diuretics are banned by the International Cricket Council because they can be used to flush out traces of performing-enhancing drugs.

Warne fell victim to a new fitness regime that had been designed to extend his test career.

He'd lost about 12 kilograms (26 pounds) in 18 months, changed his diet and increased his exercise program in a bid to become only the second bowler to surpass 500 test wickets.

He has 491 wickets and needed 28 to surpass retired West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh as the leading test bowler of all time.

Warne claimed he took the diet pill before attending a Jan. 22 news conference where he announced he would retire from one-day cricket after the World Cup.

His mother, Brigitte, reportedly gave him the pill so he'd look good for TV cameras.

"I have never blamed my Mom. I thought it was important to clarify where the fluid tablet came from," Warne said.

Warne said his rapid recovery after he dislocated his shoulder on Dec. 15 was due to good management by his surgeon and physiotherapist.

When the B sample confirmed the result of the initial test, it forced the ACB tribunal into a choice between banning a national sporting hero or adhering to the hard line on drugs that is expected in international sports.

Off-field problems have plagued Warne's career.

In 1994, Warne and teammate Mark Waugh admitted taking money from an Indian bookmaker for pitch and weather information during a tour of Sri Lanka. The pair were fined and reprimanded, although the incident was covered up by the ACB until 1998.

A phone sex scandal involving a British nurse in 2001 cost him the vice-captaincy of the Australian lineup and any aspiration he had of becoming test captain.

He also overcame serious injuries. He had a reconstruction of his bowling shoulder in 1998 and, after a slow rehabilitation, played a starring role in Australia's 1999 World Cup triumph.