Shane Warne was naive or stupid for taking a banned drug and it could end his international career, says Australian one-day captain Ricky Ponting.

The star leg spinner flew into Melbourne from cricket's World Cup tonight to face an Australian Cricket Board (ACB) anti-doping committee after testing positive to a banned diurectic.

The ACB's anti-doping policy advocates a minimum two-year ban for such offences, while lighter bans apply in "exceptional circumstances".

In such circumstances Warne could escape with a maximum three-month ban.

But Ponting fears one of Australia's greatest players may have played his last match for his country.

"There is a fear of that," said Ponting after Australia's 82-run win over Pakistan at their World Cup opener in Johannesburg.

"But I don't think anybody will know until all the hearings have been held.

"Hopefully it's not for very long, I don't think he's been ruled out of the World Cup completely yet.

"He basically told us everything - told us the truth of the matter and a lot of the guys probably really felt for him."

Asked if 33-year-old Warne was guilty of naivety in not knowing he was taking a banned drug, Ponting replied: "For sure, for sure - or stupidity, one of the two."

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