Chairman Bransgrove stands by Warne through drug allegations

Rod Bransgrove and Nick Pike photo Vic Isaacs

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove has every confidence in Shane Warne. Speaking at a press conference following the news that Hampshire's Australian captain had been sent back to Australia from the World Cup after testing positive for a small trace of a diuretic drug during the VB Final series in January, his return to the side after his shoulder injury.

"Knowing Shane as I do" said Bransgrove, "I know that he would never jeopardise his career. He may have been a little naive, but he is not a drug user, either as a performance enhansing agent or socially".

"I am confident" he continued, "that he will be able to return to South Africa to play a roll in Australia's World Cup defence".

When asked about his Hampshire prospects, Bransgrove was upbeat that he will as planned play a pivotal part of the team this year, our plans circle around our captain and leading overseas star".

"I have tried to contact Shane today, but If I was him I would have had my mobile phone turned off".