Warne pulls out of Cricket World Cup

Australian star Shane Warne has pulled out of the Cricket World Cup after apparently taking a banned substance inadvertently while recovering from a shoulder injury.

Warne, one of Wisden’s five greatest players of the 20th century, returned to the Australian squad for the World Cup after making a much faster than anticipated recovery from a dislocated shoulder in December.

“Shane Warne is returning home from the World Cup after inadvertently taking a banned drug,” Australia's Channel Seven television reported.

“It’s believed it was medicine for his injured shoulder. He will not play the first match tonight against Pakistan.”

The Australian Cricket Board in Johannesburg was not available to confirm the reports but said it would be holding a news conference with Warne.