Sailor sacked over drugs
By Phil Rothfield
May 14, 2006
WALLABIES superstar Wendell Sailor has been stood down from playing rugby union indefinitely after returning a positive drug test.
Sacked ... Sailor's career is in jeopardy. / File
The champion winger was sensationally sacked from the Waratahs team shortly before last night's match against the Hurricanes at Aussie Stadium.
The 31-year-old is facing a two-year ban which would virtually end his playing career and put at risk his $750,000-a-year contracts in rugby union.
In a statement released to The Sunday Telegraph, Sailor's manager, Greg Keenan, revealed the high-profile rugby league convert had learnt of the positive sample last week.
But he would give no indication whether it was a performance-enhancing or recreational drug.
"Wendell Sailor has been notified by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority that part A of a sample he provided recently has returned positive to a banned substance," Mr Keenan said.
"The ARU has also been notified by the agency and the ARU and NSWRU have consequently stood Wendell down from playing duties.
"We have approached the Rugby Union Players' Association to request legal advice. At this stage, Wendell has no comment to make."
The Waratahs issued a brief statement last night confirming Sailor had been stood down for breaching the ARU's code of conduct, but made no reference to the positive drug test.
Sailor's sacking was the talk of Aussie Stadium last night as the Waratahs entered the game looking to secure a home semi-final.
Fans were notified only one hour before the kick-off that he would not be playing.
Sailor spent most of yesterday in crisis talks with Mr Keenan and did not attend last night's game.
Coach Ewen McKenzie informed team-mates Sailor was out of the side as they arrived at the ground.
Sailor's indiscretion is the latest in a series of misdemeanours which have cast a pall over his glittering career. In February, Sailor was sent home from South Africa in shame after a drunken night out while on tour with the Waratahs.
It emerged Sailor had pushed a patron and vomited outside the bar. He was slapped with a one-match ban, fined an undisclosed amount - believed to be $5000 - and narrowly avoided having his Wallabies contract torn up.
Sailor's troubles began the previous July, when he was embroiled in a South African nightclub fiasco that saw Matt Henjak become the first Wallaby sent home in 39 years.
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