Warne protests innocence and will appeal

MELBOURNE, Feb 22 AAP - Shane Warne's reputation was in tatters and his sporting career in the balance today after he was found guilty of doping and banned from playing cricket for 12 months.

But Warne said he would appeal the verdict and vigorously protested his innocence.

"I feel I am a victim of anti-doping hysteria," said Warne, who added he was "absolutely devastated" by today's finding.

The three-person Australian Cricket Board (ACB) anti-doping committee found him guilty of using a prohibited method after he tested positive to the diuretics hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride on January 22.

The ban takes effect from February 10 and prohibits Warne from playing for Australia, Victoria, English county side Hampshire or his Melbourne district team St Kilda.

He stands to lose most of the $1.5 million a year he earns from cricket and sponsorship deals, including his estimated $500,000 ACB contract which is also suspended for a year.

Warne insisted the tablet he took which led to the positive test was only to improve his appearance and not to mask performance-enhancing drugs.

He said he did not blame mother Brigitte, who Warne claimed had given him the pill.

"I feel that a 12-month suspension is a very harsh penalty for not checking what I took with anyone," he said.

"I have never blamed my mum, I thought it was important to clarify where the tablet came from.

"It had nothing to do with cricket or trying to mask anything. It had to do with appearance.

"Playing for Australia and Victoria is my love and I would never knowingly put that in jeopardy. I love playing cricket too much.

"To the Australian team, you don't need me to win the World Cup - you have the talent, the passion and the desire to bring the Cup back to all of us here in Australia."

The offence Warne was charged with carries a two year ban and it was not immediately clear how the committee arrived at a 12 month suspension. An "exceptional circumstances" defence is available under ACB rules but ACB chief executive James Sutherland said the committee had found this did not apply.

Sutherland said the board was "comfortable" with the finding.

He said it was a complex case and the full reasons for the finding would be released "at a later date".

"Generally, no-one's happy about the circumstances around this case, it's unfortunate," he said.

"The anti-doping committee found there were no exceptional circumstances which would justify the charge being dismissed.

"The committee confirmed the mere presence of diuretics in the sample constituted use of a prohibited method."

Sutherland added the board regarded this as "an isolated incident".

Diuretics can be used to mask other drugs, such as steroids, and this was the reason for the more serious "prohibited method" charge.

The committee handed down the finding at 1pm (AEDT) today after yesterday's all-day hearing at ACB headquarters.

Seven as-yet unnamed witnesses were called yesterday - four on behalf of the ACB and three called by Warne's legal team.

National chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said a replacement for Australia's greatest wicket taker in the World Cup squad had already been decided upon.

The identity of that player, probably either Queensland off-spinner Nathan Hauritz or New South Wales leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, could be revealed later today.