RUGBY: The career of the Test winger Wendell Sailor was effectively ended yesterday when he was banned for two years after testing positive for cocaine and the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) cancelled his €300,000-a-year contract.
The 32-year-old, who switched codes in 2001, is unable to play any sport that subscribes to international anti-doping regulations until 2008 after the ruling by an independent judicial committee, ruling out a move to Britain or New Zealand in union or league.
Sailor failed a drugs test after a Super 14 match between the NSW Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies on April 16th. It was a final indiscretion in a career marred by incidents of bad behaviour and drunkenness.
Less than two months earlier he had been sent home from the Waratahs' tour of South Africa, suspended for three matches and fined after an incident outside a Cape Town nightclub. A year before he was fined and reprimanded over another nightclub incident.
"Wendell Sailor's behaviour has been extremely disappointing and we have no hesitation in terminating his contract," said ARU chief executive Gary Flowers.
"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. It's just a terrible shame that his off-field behaviour hasn't been able to live up to how he's played on the field."
Sailor declined to comment but has seven days to appeal.
The winger scored 110 tries in 189 matches for the Brisbane Broncos, helping them to dominate Australian rugby league in the 1990s, and 12 tries in 16 Tests before he switched codes.
Thirty-seven Tests and 13 tries for the Wallabies followed, but Sailor had already been in trouble off the field before he signed for Queensland Reds.
In 1997, he was charged with assault but cleared after the court accepted he did not throw the first punch.
On the eve of a World Cup match in 2000 he was arrested at 5am for being drunk in a public place, and a year later was fined for spitting in a woman's face.
The winger's union career has been in decline as teams noted his turning circle was more akin to that of a super tanker than a speedboat.
This season he switched to the Waratahs and the coach who lured him there, Ewen McKenzie, said yesterday that while he felt for Sailor, the player had only himself to blame. "It's a pretty harsh punishment - short of a jail sentence. But the punishment fits the crime. He was good for us. But we'll move on."
American football has been mentioned as an option for Sailor, but McKenzie said he had no idea what the future held.
"I'm sure he'll keep himself fit and there may be opportunities for him in two years. I just don't think they'll be in rugby union."
Guardian Service
