Shane Warne says the pill that caused him to fail a drugs test and may end his international cricket career was given to him by his mum.

The star leg spinner flew into Melbourne from cricket's World Cup on Wednesday night to face an Australian Cricket Board (ACB) anti-doping committee after testing positive to a banned diuretic.

Looking tired and upset, Warne again denied taking any performance enhancing drugs and said the tablet he took had nothing to do with treatment for his dislocated shoulder or to mask any other banned substance.

Instead, the diuretic pill he took on January 22 - the day he was tested - was given to him by his mother Brigitte.

"I can confirm that the fluid tablet I took before appearing to announce my retirement from one-day cricket was given to me by mum," he said in a statement to journalists at Melbourne Airport.

Warne tested positive to a diuretic known as Moduretic, used to control high blood pressure but which can also be used to shed weight quickly.

Warne's brother Jason said his mother was distraught about her part in the affair, telling the Daily Telegraph: "Mum has taken it worse than most."

Diuretics are used mainly to rid the body of fluids and aid weight loss, but can also be used to mask other performance enhancing drugs including steroids, which help sportsmen recover from injury.

Warne would not answer questions but said in his statement: "Contrary to speculation, taking it had nothing to do with the treatment for my shoulder injury or for masking any banned substance.

"I do not, never have, and never will take any performance enhancing drugs.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP