THE DRUGS controversy involving Australian cricket hero Shane Warne is threatening to throw Hampshire's season into chaos.

It was hoped the big winter signing for the Rose Bowl-based county outfit would be the lynchpin of their campaign to win promotion back to the top flight of the County Championship.

However, that is all on hold now after the 33-year-old - who is set to be the club's new skipper and overseas player - failed a drugs test for the banned substance diuretic.

He has flown home to Australia from the World Cup in South Africa and faces a possible two-year ban if found guilty of doping.

Warne has protested his innocence over the apparent presence of diuretic in his system. It can be used to aid temporary weight loss or as a masking agent for other substances.

The results of a second sample are expected today, with Warne set to face the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Anti-Doping committee next week.

Warne is hoping he will be exonerated and return to the World Cup after the hearing - but there remains a big doubt over whether he will now play any part in the premier one-day contest.

In the last World Cup, Warne was a major force in helping Australia to beat South Africa in the semi-final and then Pakistan in the final, as the Aussies lifted the coveted trophy.

Without him, Australia opened their defence of their title with a 82-run win over Pakistan in their opening group game. Defending Warne, who last played for Hampshire as an overseas player in 2000, Hampshire CCC chairman Rod Bransgrove said: "At this stage there is no allegation of the use of any performance-enhancing drugs. I know him and he is not a drug abuser."

Bransgrove added: "He is the pivot in our plans for the coming season and we will wait to see if any ban is imposed by the ACB. His loss would be a traumatic one and one we may have to encounter."

Warne signed a two-year deal with Hampshire last September and is due to make his debut as Hampshire skipper on May 14 against Gloucestershire.

Speaking about this week's events, Basingstoke-based Hampshire player Shaun Udal said: "I am astonished that this has happened.

"I spoke to Shane at the weekend. He was so looking forward to the World Cup and even told me to put some money on him to be the top wicket-taker in the competition."

Udal added: "He has had so many ups and downs in his career. There is no reason he won't come back from this one and take 150 wickets for Hampshire this year. He is a true champion."