Sailor handed two-year ban
ByReuters
Published 21/07/2006 at 04:24 GMT
Wendell Sailor's rugby career was effectively ended on Friday when the Australian Rugby Union cancelled his contract after he was found guilty of taking a prohibited substance and banned for two years by an independent judicial committee.
RUGBY 2006 Australia Wendell Sailor
Image credit: Imago
"Wendell Sailor's behaviour has been extremely disappointing and we have no hesitation in terminating his contract," ARU chief executive Gary Flowers said in a statement.
The 32-year-old New South Wales Waratahs winger was stood down by the ARU in May after a positive test following a Super 14 match against the ACT Brumbies in Sydney in April.
The subsequent B test proved positive for a metabolite of cocaine, the ARU confirmed on Friday, and the 37-times capped Wallaby requested a personal hearing which took place in Sydney earlier this week.
A judicial committee comprising lawyers John Gleeson and Peter Garling, and Dr Jeffrey Steinweg informed Sailor and the ARU of their decision on Friday, prompting the union to cancel the contract.
"Wendell Sailor has tested positive to a metabolite of cocaine which is a prohibited substance under the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code," Flowers continued.
"His actions have been nothing short of irresponsible. He already had a track record for poor behaviour which had seen him called in front of ARU and Wallaby team Disciplinary Committees on several previous occasions."
The former rugby league winger, who switched codes in a blaze of publicity ahead of the 2003 World Cup, was given a two-match suspended sentence for a nightclub incident while touring South Africa with the Wallabies in 2005.
Sailor was also fined A$500 (350 Euros) and suspended for one match by the Waratahs after another South African nightclub incident in February but the ARU imposed an additional two-match ban and A$3500 fine for bringing the game into disrepute.
"On the field, Wendell has been a great competitor with an outstanding work ethic, and his 37 Test caps are a great achievement," said Flowers.
"However he has now let himself down, as well as letting down his NSW Waratah team mates and Australian Rugby fans." Sailor's contract with the ARU had been due to expire in 2007.
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