Warne case set to go ahead

MELBOURNE, Feb 19 AAP - Shane Warne's drugs case hearing is set to go ahead by the end of the week after his B sample result was given to the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today.

Australian Sports and Drug Agency (ASDA) spokesman Shawn Winnett said Warne had waived his right to lodge a technical complaint against its testing system, and the test result had now been passed on to the ACB.

Warne was informed of his B sample result several days ago after initially testing positive to the banned diuretics hydrochlorthiazide and amiloride on January 22.

But his lawyers had been considering a challenge to the validity of the testing procedure.

"The process is now wrapped up from our end and it's now with the sport," Winnett said.

"It's up to the ACB now to convene its hearing.

"The athlete has seven days to make a submission if he has any concerns about the testing process.

"They can waive the right and it then moves on to the next step, which it has in this case."

ACB spokesman Peter Young confirmed the board had received Warne's B sample result and a hearing date was almost certain to be set by the end of today.

"We're now moving towards setting up a hearing as soon as we can," Young said.

"That could happen as early as the end of the week.

"But we do have some practical issues to work through, which could mean the hearing being held early next week.

"We hope to know by the end of the day when exactly the hearing will be."

Meanwhile, a newspaper reports claims that Warne's positive drug test indicated the presence of more than one banned diuretic tablet.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a source close to the investigation as saying Warne's drug test showed a result that reflected the use of more than one diuretic tablet.

"Warne must have taken more than one tablet to get the effect he has registered," the newspaper quoted the source as saying.

That would contradict statements by Warne that he took just one banned diuretic tablet, given to him by his mother, Brigitte.