Wallaby winger Ben Tune hit back at his South African critics today as he took some responsibility for the drug cover-up which has tainted Australian rugby.
Tune admitted he had agreed to keep quiet last year after learning he played two Super 12 matches for the Queensland Reds with traces of the banned substance probenecid in his system.
He said he was not confident of escaping punishment for the incident, even though Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has said the Australian and Queensland rugby unions should share the blame for the cover-up.
But Tune told the South Africans to back off after Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli demanded the Wallabies undergo drug testing before Saturday's Tri-Nations Test at the Gabba.
"If it would make them feel better, I would be more than happy to do a test," Tune said. "I've been tested twice already this year [after two Super 12 matches].
"We get tested all the time by ASDA (Australian Sports Drug Agency) and I could safely say that our drug testing policies would probably be a lot stricter than South Africa's. With their record they probably shouldn't be throwing too many stones".
Tune was given probenecid for a knee infection in March 2001, without authorities knowing the substance was on the IRB’s banned list. He later sat out four Super 12 matches while the drug left his system but the reason for his withdrawal was kept secret with officials repeatedly saying he was injured.
South Africa have named their side for the Tri-Nations clash at the Gabba on Saturday.
South Africa- Werner Greeff, Stefan Terblanche, Marius Joubert, De Wet Barry, Breyton Paulse, Andre Pretorius, Johannes Conradie, Bob Skinstad, Joe van Niekerk, Corne Krige (capt), Victor Matfield, Jannes Labuschagne, Faan Rautenbach, James Dalton, Lawrence Sephaka.
Reserves: Delarey du Preez, Ollie le Roux, AJ Venter, Hendro Scholtz, Neil de Kock, Adrian Jacobs, Brent Russell.