No Appeal!

[Black_White]

The well known Sportsman has decided not to appeal his suspension.
Terribly for him, the commitee investigating his case found his evidence; "Unsatisfactory" and "may not have been truthful"
That's not good.

-craig

Delete if in wrong forum.

[Black_White]

Source: Herald Sun;



Wise up Warne
By ROBERT CRADDOCK
27feb03

TO HAVE his story questioned so severely by the three-man drugs panel may do more harm to Shane Warne's public image than the offence itself.

Yesterday's revelations were close to as bad as it could get for cricket's fallen idol.
His best result would have been to be branded naive and stupid with a "Warnie, you are such a boofhead" sort of verdict. His worst result was to have the panel coldly and consistently question the truthfulness of his story, which is what he got.

There are few things in life more painful or indignant than having someone say: "I am struggling to believe you." It leaves a searching question mark not simply over this issue, but your general integrity and every statement you make.

The panel sounded bewildered to the point of total irritation at Warne claiming he had never read the ACB anti-doping policy; had not learnt the consequences of using diuretics or other drugs; and did not know medical experts were available to advise him on the use of drugs.

The last one was the biggest clanger. Warne would not be the first cricketer not to read the drugs policy. But it is staggering to think he apparently was not even aware there was a hotline and doctors on-call to help whenever he wanted.

People not even associated with the sport know that. Players are told and retold this every summer. If he was a 19-year-old from the bush playing his first season, you might think about swallowing it, so to speak.

But at age 33, after 107 Tests and a decade of international cricket, it's a bit like a 50-year-old fisherman saying he didn't know it was illegal to keep a three-centimetre bream.

It must be quite a chastening experience for superstar sportsmen to be taken out of their pampered world, full of backslappers, $360-an-hour image makers and tummy-tickling TV interviewers, and sat down before three people who wipe all that rubbish to one side and interview them as if their name is John Smith.

When this happened to Warne, his defence fell apart.

Saturday's claim by Warne that he was the victim of anti-doping hysteria seemed lightweight at the time. But it now sounds even worse in the light of what the panel described as his "vague, unsatisfactory and inconsistent evidence".

Since Warne was sentenced on Saturday, the Australian Cricket Board has started a "he's no drug cheat" defence in a bid to soften public criticism of one of its most precious assets.

The ACB went off too early on that one. It should have waited for the verdict.

If it had done so, it would have said nothing at all.

It may be true that Warne has never taken performance-enhancing drugs, but there is more to this debate than that issue.

Now is the time for the ACB to stick by the policy and the penalties that it put in place not to provide the first major victim with a soft landing.

It is not surprising Warne has decided not to appeal.

On yesterday's evidence, he seemed fortunate that the minimum penalty was halved.

It gives no joy to anyone to see such a wonderful player on his knees, but the overwhelming suspicion is that Warne will face the toughest year of his life.

Throughout the years he has displayed an incredible capacity to hang his problems on the gate post when he walks on to the field and be the best that he can be despite all the dramas.

Sheer world-class performances have always helped to squeeze those naughty headlines further into the newspapers before they eventually disappear.

But this time there is no escape hatch.

Had he been playing, Warne might have been able to sweep it all behind him by taking his 500th Test wicket, then overhauling Courtney Walsh as the game's greatest wicket-taker.

But he has a year to wait before he can take his next step forward, and it is likely to be the toughest year of all.




Delete if in wrong forum.

[Pies Premiers 2003]

no surpirses that he is not appealing....

he broke the rules....



THE PIES GO MARCHING ON

[Bartros]

I think another reason why he dident appeal was to the fact that he dident want his family dragged thru that again!!!!

Also because he broke the laws of the game!!!!


Long Live the mite and power of
Shane Morwood (member of 1990 team,1988 Vic rep)

[JLC]

I read the report released and Warne comes out of it looking like a fool. I couldnt read what was in the tablet as the flaps on the packet were torn.....his mum couldnt remember the number of tablets she had given him which makes me think that more tablets were given.

I am also disappointed by Steve Waugh who allegedly said that Australias cricketers were too tired to listen to the ASDA officials as there meeting were at 4.30pm...lol lol

Australia is meant to be the most professional cricket team in the world ?? I thought this was both on and off the field

jlc

Its not arrogance if you can back it up

Fate is what you are given, Destiny is what you do with it

Essendon 2000 premiers
2001 runners up
2002 fifth
2003 ????
The slide continues

[Madpies_Fan]

A good choice, because by the look of the report he was lucky to get 12 months and not the full 2 years.

Bec
Go Pies!!