Australian cricketer Shane Warne has denied any wrongdoing in an apparent blackmail attempt involving an encounter with a teenage girl and a young woman on the Gold Coast.
Five people have been questioned by police over the matter.
The incident arose over a brief meeting between Warne and teammate Brett Lee and a girl, aged 16, and a woman, 19, before Australia's one-day match against South Africa in Brisbane on January 20.
A television report last night said it had been alleged the players had made suggestive comments to the pair, and that one of the girls had kissed the players on the cheek.
The report said an uncle of one of the girls had then called the Australian Cricket Board, threatening to go to the media claiming the players had acted improperly towards the girls. Subsequently, a man was arrested at Melbourne Airport last Friday.
It is believed five people have been questioned by Victorian police, but no charges have been laid. Victorian police officers were said to be travelling to Queensland to investigate further.
Sources said those involved had sought money and cricket tickets from the board.
In Potchefstroom, South Africa, where they are playing in a tour match before Friday's first Test in Johannesburg, Warne and Lee said they had done nothing wrong.
Warne said: "Obviously I can't speak about the specifics of the case but I'd like to put on record the fact it's all rubbish, and it's disappointing and sad that these people have tried to take advantage of my high profile, who I am, and the Australian Cricket Board.
"As far as I'm concerned it's out of my hands now. The whole situation is very disappointing and I hope it's resolved quickly."
Lee said: "I was with Shane on the day in question and I can say categorically that nothing untoward took place."
The matter is understood to be unrelated to Warne being overlooked in favour of Ricky Ponting for the Australian one-day captaincy, with the selection panel apparently unaware of the alleged blackmail incident when they made their choice.
- TREVOR MARSHALLSEA