Melbourne, Aug 22: Disgraced Australian Test cricketer Shane Warne said today he will take no further part in any official training until the end of his 12-month drug ban in February. The controversial 33-year-old leg-spinner told a press conference here that the arguments about what he can do in cricket during his ban had gone on for too long.
Cricket Australia (CA) has been told by the government-funded Australian Sports Commission (ASC) that it was unacceptable for Warne to train while serving his 12-month ban for taking a banned diuretic, detected in a doping test prior to the World Cup in South Africa.
Under CA's anti-doping policy, the training ban covers national, state and even club training. "I think it's ridiculous that six months after the event now to say I can't train," Warne said reading from a statement. "I have come to the decision that I am going to remove myself from all official training."
"I have made this decision as I do not want to place any teammates or anyone else in an awkward position. "I will continue to work on my fitness and my cricket skills by myself and with some friends," he said.
Warne began his brief address saying that any issues or allegations concerning his private life would remain private. It was his first comments on the controversy since South African woman Helen Cohen Alon accused Warne over a fortnight ago of sending her raunchy text messages. Bureau Report