Shane Warne- the fallout

In the aftermath of Shane Warne’s 12-month ban from both international and domestic cricket of all levels it seems just a touch petty to prohibit him from training with the Victorian team.

While from what I have heard there are conflicting views over whether Warne is in fact able to train with the Victorian team or not, speculation aside, and straight to the point – Warne should be allowed to train, and train as much as he likes.

Shane Warne, the greatest spin bowler to grace the cricketing arena, is not a “drug cheat” and by his own admission never has or will be.

ACB head honcho James Sutherland has reportedly backed Warne in declaring he is not a ‘drug cheat’ more recently, and so it seems crazy that Warney be treated as such in light of the fact that the drug he used could not possibly enhance his performance in any way.

While he was banned for 12-months for using the banned diuretic and has openly admitted that he was using the drug, a “fluid tablet,” for aesthetic purposes, banning him from training is taking it one step too far.

The whole point of drugs in sport is obviously to improve your performance and an athlete taking such drugs to improve their performance is the situation the governing body is attempting to eliminate.

Shane Warne clearly does not fit under this category as he was not trying to improve his performance.

However, Warne was taking a drug which reportedly could be used to ‘mask’ performance enhancing drugs and so was in turn banned for use of the diuretic.

The above is all patently clear, and so it baffling that so many so readily want to knock Warne and dismiss him as a drug cheat just trying to get back from his shoulder injury, without giving a moments consideration for what has occurred here. Warne claims he’s a victim of “anti doping hysteria” or something along those lines, and I’m inclined to believe him.

We mustn’t forget why drug codes and so on were introduced in the first place. All too easily many amongst us get caught up with it all and start to believe the hard liners who come up with irrelevant statements in regard to Chinese swimmers and generalisations that Australian’s come down too hard on others who use drugs but not ‘our own kind,’ if you like.

Never have I heard something so ridiculous (I lie…I have seen the anti-terrorism advertisements many times).

Ultimately the Australian public and our views or natural instinct you might say, to protect our own, has no bearing whatsoever on any punishment dished out. Every case should be treated on its merits and punishments and action taken, adjusted in accordance with this.

Unfortunately in the case of Shane Warne this common sense approach has not been used. Instead, the ACB panel that deliberated on the Warne case have gone for a soft and moderate punishment and have seemingly bowed to international pressure.

Those who breach the so-called drug code, but do so ‘innocently’, and there have been many cases across a wide array of sports in recent years, should not be banned from professional competition.

Of course, every case is different, however unless someone has continually taken a banned substance (one that doesn’t improve performance) and has done so knowingly, the sportsperson should certainly not be banned if it has been an innocent mistake, as seems the case with Warne.

The issue of contention following all this controversy which has arisen has been in relation to whether or not Warney can train with the Bushrangers.

From a spectators point of view I can’t see any problem with it at all. It’s just training, practice, the same as going down to the park and turning the arm over a few times, but to better batsman, depending on which park you go to I guess…but nevertheless it’s not like a real match situation and it would enable Warne to keep fit, and hopefully keep some semblance of form.

If Shane Warne is not allowed to train I fear we may not see Warney at his best again, and that would be a real tragedy for the cricketing world. I can understand that people would call Warney “naive” or even “stupid.”

Perhaps, he was one of those, perhaps both. However, it’s all too easy these days to knock characters like Warney. If Warne has nothing else on his side but cricketing ability, he has character, and this is certainly something that shouldn’t be scoffed at so eagerly.

Obviously he’s made his mistakes, the more publicised ones those arising from incidents off the field, yet Warne possesses something on the cricket field which many players dream of.

He has this mystique about him, a kinda unforgiving grit, and a sorta down to earth rebel toughness with the courage to go through with it. It’s easy to knock people when they’re down.

But if you think of Warney as the champ of a bowler who was out on the cricket field, as I’d prefer to do, you’ll be thinking about a legend of the sport, someone who has revolutionised spin bowling.

Without characters like Shane Warne wouldn’t cricket get just a little boring…a little dull?

‘Everyone makes mistakes,’ or at least that’s what they say. When it comes to someone who’s made a few of them though, things get blurred very quickly, and stupid decisions are made.

Two stupid decisions have been made here. One was by Shane Warne; the other was by the ACB ‘drug panel.’

Please…get some common sense people…and no more stupid decisions any time soon. Because that would just be…well…stupid.

What do you think- did the Drug Panel smoke some ganja before sentencing Warnie or was the right decision made. I welcome your comments below.