Fraser opposes Warne's nomination

Australia swimming legend Dawn Fraser has criticised Shane Warne's nomination for a top international sporting award, saying the cricketer does not deserve to win because of a drug offence.

Warne is one of six athletes nominated for the "comeback of the year" category for the Laureaus awards. The winner will be announced in Portugal next week.

Fraser, a multiple Olympic swimming champion, said Warne should not have been nominated because he made his comeback after serving a 12-month ban for a doping offence.

"Shane doesn't deserve to be there," Fraser told The Australian newspaper on Friday.

"I will not vote for anyone who has taken drugs or been banned for drugs."

Warne was banned from playing for 12 months after testing positive in 2003 for diuretics, which he said he had taken to make himself look slimmer.

Since his return to international cricket, Warne passed Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to become the world's leading wicket-taker in tests.

The Laureus world sports awards began five years ago and are now recognised as sport's version of the Oscars.

Awards are made in a several categories with the winners chosen by a select group of international sportsmen and women.

The other nominees in comeback category are American golfer John Daly, the England cricket team, Japanese judoka, British long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe and Italian race driver Alessandro Zanardi.