Wagg admits using cocaine

Warwickshire all-rounder Graham Wagg admitted using cocaine today when he appeared at a preliminary hearing of an England and Wales Cricket Board disciplinary panel at Lord's.

Wagg was told that a test of a sample of his urine, taking on September 4, was shown to have contained a derivative of cocaine.

Wagg admitted he had used cocaine and the disciplinary panel moved into a full hearing where he pleaded guilty to a formal charge.

The hearing, before Gerard Elias QC, Alan Moss and Tim O'Gorman, was then adjourned until October 18 to hear Wagg's mitigation and determine what penalty to impose.

Wagg issued a statement which read: "Graham Wagg of Warwickshire County Cricket Club and England A today pleaded guilty to failing a drugs test for cocaine held under the ECB's anti-doping procedures.

"Mr Wagg apologised to the Disciplinary Panel, Warwickshire CCC and the game of cricket at the earliest opportunity for bringing the game and his club into disrepute.

"Mr Wagg is deeply remorseful and determined to show his employers and cricket fans that he will accept the punishment meted out to him with humility and good grace.

"Mr Wagg is grateful to the ECB's Disciplinary Panel for indicating that they will be taking his guilty plea and remorse into account when considering his punishment at the hearing on 18th October.

"Mr Wagg extends his thanks to his father, John, to Warwickshire and to the PCA (Professional Cricketers' Association) for their help and support in this difficult period.

"He will do all he can to return to top class cricket at the earliest opportunity as a better and stronger cricketer and to learn from this difficult experience."