Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes Shane Warne's one-year suspension for using a banned drug is a big wake-up call for athletes in all sports.
Warne, one of Wisden's five cricketers of the century, was suspended from cricket for 12 months by an Australian Cricket Board anti-doping committee on Saturday after testing positive for a banned diuretic.
"Obviously he was very naive with it but I think it's a big wake-up call, not just for cricketers but for sportsman all around the world," said Ponting.
"You have to be very careful with the things you put in your mouth and Shane obviously has learned a very hard lesson," he added, referring to the fluid-reducing tablet which Warne claims to have taken to help him slim down on January 21.
"I think everyone feels very disappointed for Shane and we are all disappointed for him. Obviously it's been a very tough time for him over the last week and a half.
"I believe he'll appeal this thing and, hopefully, the suspension will be lessened."
The 33-year-old Warne called himself a victim of "anti-doping hysteria" immediately after hearing of his suspension. He said he planned to appeal.
Ponting, who took over the captaincy of Australia's one-day side from Steve Waugh at the start of last year, said most of the team would be speaking to Warne via text message or telephone over the next few hours.
DEFINITELY SHATTERED
"I've not spoken to him this morning. I've been at breakfast and listened to a couple of the guys but I'm pretty sure most of the guys will speak to him at some stage today.
"He's definitely shattered. Just seeing his reaction when he first addressed the team over here, he was shattered saying he was going to miss the World Cup, which was going to be his last World Cup," said Ponting.
"He was very upset by that and no doubt he'll be worse today, knowing he's got a 12-month ban over his head."
The Australia skipper added that he and his players had expected something like this to happen, but not to one of their colleagues.
"When it does come out and it's one your team mates and one of the greatest players the world has ever seen -- and he's suspended for 12 months -- it's very disappointing for everyone.
"Let's hope it's not the end. I wouldn't have thought so. I think there's still a lot of things and a lot of goals Shane wants to achieve. And let's hope he can get over this, as he's got over some of his bad injuries over the years too.
"This World Cup was going to be his last set of one-day matches. He's worked particularly hard on his fitness in the last couple of years to get his body in the shape that it is and he's been bowling extremely well."
More from rediff