The Hindu : "I don't take drugs in any form"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

"I don't take drugs in any form"

Shane Warne, the most successful leg spinner in history, failed a test on January 22 in Australia, carried out by the Australian Sports Drug Agency. Warne heard the news on Monday before informing the ACB.

WHAT SHANE WARNE SAID

``I took a fluid reduction tablet... which I did not know contained a prohibited substance. The tablet actually dehydrates you and gets rid of any excess fluid in the body. 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.

``I'm proud of the shape I'm in at the moment and that is due to nothing other than hard work and looking after myself with diet. I'd like to thank the World Cup squad for their support and friendship and I believe they have the talent and spirit in the team to win the World Cup with or without me.

``I am shocked because I did not take performance enhancing drugs and never have and do not condone them in any way, shape or form. I did take a fluid tablet before my comeback game in Sydney which I did not know contained a prohibited substance.

"The tablet actually dehydrates you and gets rid of any excess fluid in your body and, as I understand it, is not performance-enhancing in any way."

WHAT OTHERS SAID

How the cricket world reacted to the news that Warne had tested positive to a banned diuretic.

Ricky Ponting,

Australian captain

``It's been a little disappointing for it to happen the way that it has. We just have to get on with things.

We've got to keep this completely out of our minds.''

``Yeah, the team was quite shocked to hear it this morning,'' Ponting said.

``But we have got the guys to put the situation out of our mind and concentrate on the game.

``I am sure the second sample will prove his innocence.''

Dennis Lillee,

Australian pace bowling legend

I don't know the full story on what happened. I feel sorry that Warne is going through all this. He wouldn't knowingly do anything to jeopardise his career."

Ian Healy,

former Australian wicketkeeper

``Until the B sample is analysed he could still play at the World Cup. It (the failed test) had nothing to do with his shoulder.''

Tim May,

former Test player

``I have been in close contact with Shane and, as with any other player, I am available to support and assist Shane through this difficult period.''

Mike Gatting,

former England captain

``I can't believe Shane Warne would do that. I don't think it's anything more than an honest mistake. I know the Australian Cricket Board are against performance-enhancing drugs and are trying to stamp down on it.

``He'll be a huge loss to the Australian team. But I think he's done exactly the right thing going back to Australia to sort it out. It should relieve the pressure on the Australian team.

``They've played and managed to win without him before but with him they are a much more potent force. Any side will miss someone of his calibre, he's a world class leg-spinner.

"I can't believe we won't see any more of Shane Warne. We won't see him in one-day cricket any more of course but we'll see him in the Test arena.''

Steve Waugh

``I'm devastated for Shane and for his family. I know how much it meant to him this last one-day tournament. He wanted to make an impact on the world stage. I hope it works out for him because he's been great for cricket and great for Australian cricket.

``I personally want to remember all the great things he's done for the game.''

Despite his great admiration for his former team mate, Waugh does not think the loss of Warne will hit Australia's hopes of retaining the World Cup too hard.

``They have got enough experience to get through and enough quality players to cope and I'm sure they'll see this as another challenge,'' said Waugh, who was sacked as Australia's one-day captain last February.

``I'm sure they will try and remain focused on the cricket, react positively and play as they always do, aggressively.''

The 37-year-old Waugh said he was ready to fly to South Africa if the selectors decided to call him into the World Cup squad as a replacement.

``I'm still available if needed but, at the moment, my thoughts are just on this terrible news,'' Waugh said.

Tom Moody, former teammate

``It came as quite a shock because Shane Warne is such a wonderful cricketer.''

Asked if cricketers took performance-enhancing drugs, Moody said: ``I don't even know what these drugs are. I hear Shane's tablet was for fluid loss or weight loss.

``I know he is a changed man these days and has lost a lot of weight in recent months. He goes through a rigorous fitness regimen.

``My gut feeling is that he will be cleared soon.''

Sourav Ganguly

Saurav Ganguly said he was upset about Shane Warne's exit from the World Cup after failing a drugs test, hailing him as ``a champion of the game.

``It's really sad news for world cricket. To make it worse, it was the last World Cup of his career. I really don't know the final situation, on what basis he has been banned, but obviously all the players in South Africa will miss him.''

Ganguly added that India were very careful about any medication they took.

``The boys are strictly following instructions and it has been going on well. Some of us had 'flu (in a recent tour to New Zealand) and we have consulted the doctors.''

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