Sailor out in the cold after drugs ban

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) bosses have hit back at Wallabies winger Wendell Sailor’s claims that his two-year drugs ban was “grossly unfair“.

ARU operations chief Rob Clarke was furious after reading Sailor’s statement in Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph newspaper, in which the player said he was “gutted” by the length of his suspension and had been hoping for “some leniency” after testing positive for cocaine.

However, Clarke hit back at the statement and said players should be aware of the punishments for breaching the game’s stringent anti-doping laws.

“It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to Wendell,” Clarke said in the Daily Telegraph.

“It’s clear in our bylaws and in the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code that a proven offence of this nature requires a mandatory two years.

“I’m just disappointed Wendell hasn’t seen the significance this issue has to the game and to the fans. Nothing good comes from taking drugs and I only hope he reflects back and learns from it, for the sake of himself and his family.”

ARU managing director Gary Flowers also revealed a telling finding from the three-man judiciary panel that countered Sailor‘s argument.

“The tribunal said even if there was the chance to show discretion they would have still imposed the two years,” said Flowers. “That speaks for itself.”

Meanwhile, the former rugby league club of the disgraced dual international has admitted it would be difficult for Sailor to come back and play for them.

Bruno Cullen, the chief executive of the Brisbane Broncos, where Sailor started his league career, confirmed the club had no room for the player.

Sailor indicated earlier this week he vowed to return to either union or league once his ban was completed.

But Cullen made it clear the former Broncos player faced a “difficult assignment” to play again in league and said if he did, it would be unlikely to be with Brisbane.

“We’ve just finished our roster for next year, and we’ve got rosters looking ahead to 2008 and 2009 as well,” Cullen said in the Daily Telegraph.

“If we keep all the people we want to keep, then we will just about know who we’re going to have two years from now.

“We certainly don’t have Wendell Sailor on those lists.

“In saying that, he has a good relationship with (coach) Wayne Bennett and he’s done a lot for this club in the past.

“If in two years he made a call and said “hey, here I am“, out of respect for the guy we’d certainly talk.

“But make no mistake, it would be a very difficult assignment.”