Don't know - his mum could have told him to.

Seriously he could have been taking them for cosmetic reasons, to get rid of fluid to make him look slimmer, lots of people do lots of stupid things to lose weight.

At the end of the day unlike steroids diurects won't help his peformance, i don't know why they are banned.

__________________
Ern

I think they are banned because they can mask certain performace enhancing drugs.

The year ban he served was correct IMO. What wasnt correct was that Shoaib got off with his offence. His appeal should have been heard by anyone but the PCB who didnt want to ban their 2 best bowlers. Its strange that just before the WC the ICC said they would target test Shoaib and Asif, and if found guilty would face life bans (for a second positive test). suddenly they pull out of the WC because of injury.....

__________________
Mark.

Diuretics are banned because athletes who have to make weight limits can use them to make those limits. That's just one reason.

If his mum actually did tell him to take it, and he did, then he deserved a 2 year ban for stupidity. Silly excuse, highly unbelievable.

He returned to playing way faster than the injury he did have would have normally let him.

What was far more likely is he used illegal substances to heal and then used the diuretic to mask that.

Two seperate diuretics were found in his system and his mother's testimony was deemed "vague and inconsistent".

Secondly, weight loss aided by illegal drugs can be just as and, in some cases, even more "performance enhancing" than any gains from nandrolone in a short period of time.

Losing weight for one person can aid their performance just as much as being able to train harder and for longer for another person.

As for Akhtar and Asif not being selected for the WC, weren't they not declared fit so they would not be subject to a drugs test as the team management had feared that they would fail the doping tests as it was likely traces of nandrolone were still present in their system and they'd failed further tests?

So, yes, one can be perturbed that Akhtar and Asif had their suspensions dropped (myself less than most on this board) but attempts to "defend" Warne's actions as lesser when they are just as bad (and he roped his mum in to cover his bad deed!) are, and I'm being polite, wrong!

Agreed - but I was joking on that one.
Well with respect - what's wrong with that?, if the diuretics aided recovery, then that's OK in my book.

Yes maybe - but that should not have been taken into account unless proof could be offered.

I can't agree here Ninjaman, any significant weight loss through taking diuretics would weaken anyone to the point they could not perform for a days cricket, for a start diuretics taken in any amount would lead to dehydration.
Yes I agree if the weight loss is due to diet and exercise, weight loss due to fluid loss would in fact be dangerous in training, it would interfere with the body's electrolytes, and could cause heart rythm problems.

Indeed - but the fact was they had there suspensions dropped, only for the fear of nandrolone being detected - they would have played in the world Cup.
If we are comparing drugs, then Warne is not as bad - diuretics in cricket would have no place at all, and would not IMO (having taken them myself) aid performance.
Nandrolone on the other hand will cause weight gain, which can be converted to muscle - which could affect a bowlers strength and pace.
Agreed - but athletes would only use them on the day of a race, or a boxer maybe to make the correct weight, even in athletics the long term use of diuretics would IMO be counterproductive - due to lack of stamina.

__________________
Ern

I'm saying he took something much stronger to heal himself and then took TWO different diuretics to mask it......allegedly of course.

Tell that to the many athletes who have done the same thing and its worked for them.

Too rapid a loss and too often their use is more likely to lead to problems. However, diuretics used "properly" can lead to significant weight loss.

Seems a good enough reason not to pick them then!

So you are slowly realising that he probably used the diuretics to mask something else much more sinister in his system that he was using to help heal his shoulder??

Diuretics are on the same level as steroids.

Why?

They are both on the banned list.

No arguments.

There are no degrees. Either BANNED or LEGAL.

Warne was caught with illegal substances inside his body. Doesn't matter what they were, it was their status that mattered.

That's the point!

I can see what you are saying Ninjaman but at least Warne took his punishment and served his ban (without appeal). The ACB deserve praise because they werent weak like the PCB who didnt want to lose their best two bowlers.

Incidently does anyone know the status of the CAS' appeal against the PCB's decision. All i know is if their appeal is sucessful the bans will stand and the PCB will not look too clever.

__________________
Mark.