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SHAME, SHANE, SHAME

Aw shucks, good old Warnie. He forgot to tell us that he actually took illegal diuretic pills on two occasions.

That's why traces of the banned substance turned up in his urine sample as well from a December drug test.

Big brave Shane 'fessed up on A Current Affair last night. Obviously it was just a coincidence that the Doping Tribunal's judgement was being released publicly today.

But still Warne clung to his gosh, golly, gee, just one of the boys self-defence performances. Had a bit too much wine. Took a fluid pill. Just to look good.

But look behind this latest self-centred and self-serving explanation. Look instead at the published reasons for the tribunal giving him a one-year ban and you'll think he's damn lucky it wasn't longer. The verdict referred a number of times to the " extreme vagueness" of Warne's evidence given under oath.

The tribunal members even said that because of the inconsistencies in his evidence they had grave doubts it had the full information on the extent of Warne's use of diuretics before the January 22 sample.

They even used words like "unsatisfactory" to describe both Warne's evidence and that of his mother.

And in legal language they scoffed at his supposed lack of knowledge about the ACB's anti-doping policy. They virtually called him a liar by saying " the committee does not accept he was entirely truthful in his responses to questions.."

He had attended a number of sessions for players in which the anti-doping policy was explained. And they didn't believe him when he said he was unaware of an ASDA hotline for players to get advice.

It is true that the tribunal found there was no specific evidence of Warne using anabolic steroids or other prohibited substances masked by the diuretic imbibed. " But… one cannot say categorically that no substance was used."

Having read the entire judgement today I have one word of advice for Shane Warne as he contemplates an appeal: Don't.

You are bloody lucky you got off as lightly as you did.

Wednesday, February 26, 2003

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2002