Little hope for Warne's second sample

There was scant chance of Shane Warne's second urine sample being free of drugs, the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) said.

Warne is returning from South Africa without bowling a ball in the World Cup after testing positive for diuretics in an ASDA sanctioned test on January 22 this year.

The positive test was from Warne's initial urine sample.

Another sample, referred to as the B sample, is now being examined.

But ASDA chairman Dr Brian Sando said it was rare for a B sample result to differ from the initial sample, known as the A sample.

"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," Dr Sando told ABC radio.

Dr Sando said he was disappointed at Warne's positive test.

"The education programs are pretty widespread," he said.

"And I know cricket has certainly participated in those programs and have done their very best to educate their athletes about the dangers of taking prohibited substances and not getting caught by inadvertent use.

"But every year, unfortunately, we have a few of these top athletes that test positive to substances on that banned list, and it's pretty disappointing."

Dr Sando said it did not matter if Warne was unaware of taking the banned diuretic.

"Unfortunately from an athlete's viewpoint, there is strict liability," he said.

"An athlete is responsible for what goes into their body.

"And so if a banned substance is found in urine testing then that athlete has to answer as to why and how that has occurred.

"Sometimes it is very vague and they are not really certain or they have taken something for a purpose that wasn't in anyway associated with trying to enhance performance.

"But they really do have to pay a penalty because unfortunately it's not possible to differentiate frequently between those who have done something inadvertently and those who may not have been trying to do it inadvertently."