Warne to flee Australia
By Michael Warner and Robert Craddock
August 23, 2003
SHANE Warne and his wife are preparing to flee Australia ahead of fresh allegations about his sex life.
Warne refused to comment on personal matters.
Simone Warne yesterday vowed to stand by her man, saying "certain individuals" were out to destroy her family.
"I stand by my husband 100 per cent. I always have . . . and will continue to, especially through this unnecessary heartache," the mother of three said in a statement.
"Certain individuals are trying to destroy our family. This will not happen."
The Warnes are expected to fly out this weekend before a new wave of accusations is aired on national television.
A Melbourne stripper will tell her story on the Seven network on Monday night. The married mother of two has been paid by Seven and New Idea magazine to reveal all about her alleged fling with the embattled spinner.
The woman and her husband originally approached the Herald Sun, saying they wanted money before going public with their claims.
The Herald Sun refused on the grounds it does not pay for stories.
The unidentified exotic dancer, 38, claims the affair began in May this year and ended last month when she returned to her husband and two children.
Celebrity agent Harry M. Miller has been negotiating a deal with media outlets on behalf of the woman for two weeks.
The warts-and-all interview is expected to air in two parts on Seven's Today Tonight on Monday and Tuesday and hit newsstands later in the week.
Mr Miller told the Herald Sun the interview had already been taped and a polygraph test would confirm the 38-year-old's claims.
"The needle didn't even waver," Mr Miller said. "I told her when she first approached me that she would have to take a lie detector test, and she's done it."
The story comes less than two weeks after South African woman Helen Cohen Alon claimed Warne bombarded her with lurid SMS messages after they met during an Australian tour last year.
Ms Cohen Alon alleges she was later paid $42,000 by an associate of Warne to keep quiet about her claims.
The 45-year-old grandmother now claims to have photographs to back up her allegations.
Australia's greatest wicket-taker avoided the accusations yesterday when he attended a packed press conference at Crown casino.
"Any issues or allegations concerning my private life are exactly that . . . private," he said.
Warne announced he would take no part in any formal cricket training until his drugs ban expires on February 10 next year, but declared he would fight to return to the Australian side.
The champion spinner said he had made the decision to spare his teammates any trouble.
His decision followed a threat by the Federal Government to withdraw more than $1.5 million in funding to Cricket Australia if Warne continued to train with his club, state or country.
Warne, 33, was suspended from all cricket for 12 months after failing a random drug test on the eve of this year's World Cup in South Africa.
Cricket Australia initially said Warne could continue to train with those teams, but has since changed its stance.
Warne lashed out at the ruling.
"The arguments about what I can and can't do in relation to cricket have been going on for far too long," he said.
"I think it's ridiculous that six months after the event to now say I can't train - (it) just seems that there are too many agendas with too many people.
"I have come to the decision that I'm going to remove myself from all official training. I have made this decision as I do not want to place any teammates or anyone else in an awkward position."
Warne said he would continue to work on his fitness and cricket skills alone and with friends.
"I know that I've got a lot to offer cricket -- at what level that is, is out of my control.
"All I can do is present myself in the best possible way and hope the powers that be will enjoy my return."
Prime Minister John Howard backed moves to prevent Warne from participating in official training, saying the spinner must fully observe the conditions of his one-year ban.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said he was surprised when Warne rang him to say he had abandoned his plans to continue official training.
"From what I understand he has personal issues that he wants to work through."
