Warne wants to return to the World Cup

Shane Warne has arrived back in Australia after being sent home from the World Cup following the news of his positive drugs test. The leg-spinner, who is fighting to save his career in the game, was obviously tired after his flight and the traumatic events of the past two days.

At a press conference at Melbourne airport, he said, "I still feel a bit in shock and devastated at the news.

"Obviously, I would prefer to be in South Africa congratulating Andrew Symonds on a wonderful innings and the rest of the boys on the great start to the World Cup. While my best wishes are with the team and I wish I was there being my last one-day international for Australia. I felt it was important to address these issues personally."

Warne had to chose his words carefully with a formal hearing to be faced, probably next week, but he was able to confirm some of the facts of the case.

"I can confirm that the fluid tablet I took before appearing to announce my retirement from one-day cricket was given to me by my mum," he said. "Contrary to speculation, taking it had nothing to do with the treatment for my shoulder injury or for masking any banned substance.

"I did not give it another thought until contacted by the ASDA (Australian Sports Drugs Agency) this week. My most recent previous ASDA test was on 12 December and it was negative."

He reiterated his stance on drugs. "I do not, never have and never will take any performance enhancing drugs. They have no place in cricket and I do not condone them in any way.

Warne then gave details about the next stage of the formal process. "The B sample test is to be held as soon as it can be arranged, which will, hopefully, be before the end of the week. I don't know yet how long the tests will take or when the hearing will be held, but hope it is sooner rather than later."

The Australian Cricket Board has confirmed that Warne himself notified the team management in South Africa of the test results, at which point it was agreed that he should return home to deal with the issue. It is not a matter for the ICC because the events in question occurred in Australia and not at the World Cup.

If the test on the B sample proves positive, Warne has a period of seven days in which to challenge the validity of the test. He can waive this right, in which case the ACB will receive immediate notification of the result. If found guilty, Warne faces a ban from cricket of at least two years. At the age of 33, he would find it hard to get back to increase his tally of Test wickets, currently standing at 491.

The drug he is accused of taking - a diuretic known as Moduretic - is available on prescription and is widely used in the treatment of hypertension, high blood pressure and fluid retention. It is banned because it has the potential to act as a masking agent for steroids. It achieves this by diluting traces of the substance in the urine.

Even if found guilty of taking a prohibited substance, there is a chance that his ban might be less than two years. ACB Anti-Doping medical advisor may provide reports, statements and evidence to the committee which it may use to consider lowering the penalty.

There is even an outside chance that he could return to South Africa to take part in the later stages of the World Cup, as he said himself. "I am hopeful of returning back to South Africa to play a part in the World Cup."

Although the ACB is considering an approach to the ICC's World Cup Technical Committee to draft in a replacement, no final decision will be taken until after Warne's hearing and, should he be cleared of any offence, the ACB can apply to have the player reinstated to the squad.

It has to be said that this is a long shot and a moment of stupidity might well have cost Warne the chance to end his one-day international career on the great stage of the World Cup - and robbed that stage of one of its most charismatic players.