Warne tested positive for a banned diuretic

A barrister has ruled that Warne, who was banned after failing a drugs test, can play in charity and testimonial matches.

Cricket Australia (CA) officials initially said that the ban applied to the game at all levels.

They were, however, willing to allow Warne to practice with his state team and the national squad and undertake development, promotional and media work.

But their view was challenged by the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA), the players' union, and the matter was referred for independent arbitration.

Warne handed one-year ban

Peter O'Callaghan QC has now ruled that under a memorandum of understanding between the two bodies, Cricket Australia does not have the right to enforce an all-encompassing ban.

Both sides have agreed to be bound by the arbiter's decision, full details of which will be made public later this week.

Warne was suspended for a year in February after being sent home from the World Cup in South Africa after testing positive for a banned diuretic.

He said at the time that he believed he was the victim of "anti-doping hysteria".

Warne insisted he had taken a tablet as an aid to weight loss and added: "I have never taken any performance enhancing drugs and never will."

As well as putting him out of international cricket, the ban also meant he was unable to take up a contract to captain English county side Hampshire.

But he could now decide to take up an offer to play for Lashings, a pub team based in Kent.

Lashings have been made famous by signing well-known cricketers, including Sir Viv Richards, Shoaib Akhtar and Brian Lara, to play exhibition games.