Black Caps seamer Tim Southee said news Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kusal Perera had been sent home following revelations he had tested positive for a banned substance was a warning for athletes to be careful about what they consumed.
The 25-year-old returned a positive sample during the recent home series against Pakistan and has been suspended.
He was informed of the charge on Monday and has 14 days to request an appeal.
Perera had been picked for all three formats on Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand and will be replaced by Kaushal Silva.
Silva is scheduled to arrive today but Dinesh Chandimal may get the job of keeping wickets during the first test which gets under way in Dunedin tomorrow.
Southee was unable to comment on Perera's departure but said the Black Caps were very mindful of what substances they can and cannot consume.
"Obviously there are guidelines that have to be followed and it is just safe to run everything past the physio or the trainer,'' Southee said.
"When you are sick, then any medications you take - it is better to take the cautious approach and actually check it out before taking it. That is the process that all of our guys follow. If you are not sure, it is best to double check.''
Perera had been in good touch for Sri Lanka during the one-day international series against Pakistan in July.
The left-hander smashed a 17-ball half-century in the second ODI and a better than a-run-a-ball century in the fifth ODI.
His absence leaves a hole in what is an inexperienced batting line-up which will lean heavily on captain Angelo Mathews, Chandimal and opener Dimuth Karunaratne.
In a press release from Sri Lanka Cricket, the organisation said it would have a further sample tested and "make every endeavour'' to enable Perera to resume playing cricket at the earliest opportunity.
Sri Lankan cricketer Kithuruwan Vithanage told media yesterday the whole team was very surprised about the positive test by Perera and it had shocked the team.
He was set to be the keeper for tomorrow's first test and the team now had to prepare to play with another gloveman.
Perera's suspension is the second setback.
Right-arm seamer Dhammika Prasad was forced to return home after he suffered a back complaint during the warm-up match against the President's XI in Queenstown last week.
