SYDNEY, Sept 8: Disgraced cricketer Shane Warne was the most high-profile Australian sportsman to be banned as positive drug tests increased by 36 per cent in the past year, a report said on Monday.

Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) chief executive John Mendoza said the rise, the first since 1998-99 and despite a fall in the number of tests, showed Australia had its share of drug cheats.

“The 34 doping infractions from 28 athletes recorded represents a marked increase from the 25 infractions from 20 athletes in 2001-2002,” Mendoza said on Monday.

“This trend clearly indicates Australia is far from immune to doping.”

ASDA was concerned that athletes were returning positive tests for far more serious substances.

“The increase in infractions for anabolic agents, masking agents, certain stimulants and refusals to undertake testing is also significant.”

Warne tested positive for two diuretics - regarded as masking agents - and was banned for a year from all levels of cricket.

Pistol shooter Phillip Adams tested positive for diuretics before last year’s Manchester Commonwealth Games but his two-year ban was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport because the drug was not on ASDA’s banned list.

Former Matildas captain Anissa Tann, Australia’s most-capped female soccer player, received a two-year ban after testing positive to the steroid nandrolone.—AFP