MELBOURNE, 13 February 2003 — The diuretic Shane Warne tested positive to would not be classified until the legspinner’s anti-doping hearing, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said yesterday.

Under the ACB’s drugs policy, Warne’s positive test could fall into two categories with two different penalties.

Depending on his motives for taking the diuretics Warne could face either a maximum three-month suspension or a two-year ban, the latter almost certainly ending his international career.

ACB public affairs general manager Peter Young said it was too early to determine how the positive test would be classified. “That’s an issue for the anti-doping hearing,” he said.

Young said a date for the hearing had yet to be set, although it could be as early as today.

Warne’s cricketing future rests with the ACB, which developed its drug policy in conjunction with the Australian Sports Drug Agency.

ASDA administers drug tests throughout the country and tailors the policies each of Australia’s highest sporting bodies have adopted.

While athletes who have tested positive to banned substances must answer to their respective governing bodies, ASDA conducts testing either during competition or randomly.

Warne was randomly tested on Jan. 22, the day before his comeback international match against England in Sydney.

Which category of athletes are tested is up to the sporting body, ASDA said.

“Because we tailor the contracts, they can request that athletes of a certain standing such as higher-ranked athletes are tested,” said ASDA spokesman Shawn Winnett yesterday.

“That doesn’t mean that lower-ranked athletes aren’t tested, it just depends on the contract.”

ASDA chairman Brian Sando yesterday said there was scant chance of Warne’s B sample being free of drugs.

“Unfortunately for the athlete, it is very unlikely that specimen, which really is part of the original one, is going to show anything different from what the A sample has shown,” Sando said.

Selectors wait before announcing

Warne replacement

Selectors will wait for more news on the situation of Shane Warne before announcing his replacement for the World Cup, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said yesterday. The star spinner will appear before the ACB’s anti-doping committee this week with his career on the line after testing positive for a banned diuretic and being sent home from the World Cup.

The ACB has not moved to replace Warne even though selectors have been told to consider a new player for the defending champions, who play their second pool match against India at Centurion tomorrow.

An ACB spokesman yesterday confirmed the board would wait for a clearer picture of Warne’s situation before asking the International Cricket Council if a new player could be sent to Africa.

The ACB is expected to ask for permission to send Warne back into the World Cup if he is cleared by the anti-doping committee despite his positive test.

Without Warne, Australia has only 14 players in South Africa but the squad will be boosted by the return from suspension of Darren Lehmann and the likely availability from injury of Michael Bevan.

With all-rounders Andrew Symonds and Ian Harvey starring in Tuesday’s 82-run hammering of Pakistan, Australian selectors can choose from a strong 14-man squad.

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns was expected to speak later with co-selector Andrew Hilditch, who is in South Africa with the Australian team.

If selectors decide to send another spinner in a straight swap for Warne, Queensland off-spinner Nathan Hauritz and NSW leggie Stuart MacGill appear the main contenders. (Agencies)