Statement by ACB Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland to media conference, Johannesburg, Tuesday, 11 February

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am here today to announce that Shane Warne has expressed his wish to stand down from Australia's World Cup team and will return to Australia today to complete drug testing procedures and for a hearing to be held under the Australian Cricket Board's anti-doping policy.

This follows Shane's advice to us that the Australian Sports Drug Agency has told him he has tested positive for diuretics on samples he provided to them in Sydney last month.

Shane notified the ACB yesterday as soon as he received the news, and also advised he believed the test result related to fluid reduction medication he took in Sydney last month.

The results are preliminary and subject to confirmation.

The Australian Sports Drug Agency has confirmed its advice and process to Shane overnight and the ACB has referred the matter to the ACB Anti-Doping Committee based on our belief that he may have committed an offence under the ACB Anti-Doping Policy.

Shane will travel home to Australia today and the hearing will take place in Melbourne as soon as possible.

Details of who will hear the charge, and when it will be heard, will be announced as soon as those details are finalised.

The Australian Cricket Board regards its anti-doping policy very seriously.

We have had an anti-doping policy in place since 1998, it is approved by the Australian Sports Commission, and all players are regularly educated about the policy's requirements.

We support the Australian Sports Drug Agency in its random testing of ACB and state contracted players.

At the same time, we commend Shane for his open and co-operative approach, including coming forward as soon as the issue was raised with him, rather than following the normal process of waiting for ASDA to conduct and finalise further tests.

If the Anti-Doping Committee finds that Shane has not committed a doping offence under the policy we will ask the World Cup Event Technical Committee for approval for Shane to be reinstated to the Australian World Cup squad.

In the meantime, we have advised the International Cricket Council of the situation and will apply to the World Cup Event Technical Committee for approval to replace Shane in our World Cup squad.

We have asked the Australian National Selection Panel to recommend a replacement.

As Shane is facing a hearing under the ACB Anti-Doping Policy, It is not appropriate today to speculate on further details or possible outcomes, but we will keep you up to date in the coming days with further steps as they are finalised."