Sydney, Feb 22: Shane Warne's 12-month ban from international cricket sparked mixed reactions from various quarters here today with test captain Steve Waugh saying it would be very difficult for the leg-spinner to force his way back in the national squad. "It is the unknown question, I am sure that Shane will want to get back in there, but as time goes by his mind will be in different places," said Waugh who was dropped from the one-day side last year.

"But it is really his decision, and he has got to have the motivation to continue.... To train for 12 months without playing, that has to be very difficult," Waugh was quoted as saying on an Australian website. National Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said that the anti-doping tribunal's decision was something that "had to be lived with".

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The 33-year-old Warne was today banned for a year from all "organised cricket" for taking diuretics by an independent tribunal.

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President John Coates said Warne's case should serve as a wake-up call to all athletes.

"This is a stark reminder to everyone that you have to know what's inside your body and you're responsible for what you take," Coates said on a television news channel. World Anti-Doping Agency Chief Operating Officer David Howman said he did not know as yet the reasoning behind the ruling.

"You've got to say that they've at least done the right thing in making sure that there was a doping infraction found because it would have been a very unusual decision to have done otherwise," Howman said.

Prime Minister John Howard said he would not comment on Warne's ban because the leg-spinner had vowed to appeal. Federal opposition leader Simon Crean said Warne knew the rules and must pay the price. "It's a tragedy for cricket," he said through a spokesman, and added, "But nobody can be immune to the penalties that apply for drugs in sport."

Bureau Report