It's a great shame if Warne goes, says PM

ADELAIDE, Feb 20 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard today said it would be a great shame if Shane Warne was banned from cricket.

Warne faces a possible two-year ban from the game after being charged with testing positive to the banned diuretics hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride on January 22.

Warne's drugs case hearing will be held tomorrow in Melbourne by the Australian Cricket Board's three-person anti-doping committee.

Warne returned home from the World Cup in South Africa last week without bowling a ball after being informed of the positive test.

His defence, so far, was that he was given a weight loss tablet by his mother, Brigitte, and was unaware it contained the banned substances.

If Warne is exonerated, he could be back in the Australian World Cup squad for its pool match against Namibia on February 27.

Mr Howard said the rules must be upheld at Warne's drugs case hearing but added it would be sad to see him go.

"He's facing a tribunal and I don't think it's fair for someone in my position to express a view either way, except to express the hope he's dealt with fairly and justly," Mr Howard told Adelaide radio station 5DN.

"It would be a great shame if we lose his services.

"On the other hand there are rules that need to be upheld and I would support the rules being upheld.

"I just hope that he (Warne) doesn't break them."