Cricket: Shane Warne drugs ban

Shane Warne has been cleared to play in charity matches and testimonial games during his 12-month ban from cricket.

Cricket Australia believed that a suspension for a drugs offence ruled any player out of all forms of the game until it had been served.

But the players' union disagreed and the matter went to independent arbitration, which has found in favour of the Australian Cricketers' Association.

Victorian barrister Peter O'Callaghan QC has advised that the provision (12.4 (a) (iii) of the MOU) does not give Cricket Australia the right to take such a stance.

No immediate details into the decision were available, though O'Callaghan is due to publish his findings this week and both Cricket Australia and the ACA had agreed to be bound by his decision.

Warne, currently working as a commentator at Australia's Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, withdrew from the World Cup squad after it became apparent he had tested positive for banned diuretics.

The slimming pill he had taken breached Cricket Australia's Anti-Doping policy and, after a dramatic hearing, he was banned from organised cricket for 12 months.

The leg spinner, who promises to have added to his box of tricks during his year off, returns to the game on February 10, just days before Australia are due to fly off to Sri Lanka.