Wendell Sailor
| Height | 1.91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Weight | 106 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wendell Sailor (born 16 July 1974 in Sarina, Queensland) was one of the most famous players to have represented Australia in both rugby union and rugby league. His career came to an end in 2006 after he was found to have used cocaine before a football match. His large frame (1.91 m, 106 kg/6'3", 234 lb) and bullocking style changed the way wingers played Rugby League in the late nineties. His big-money move from the Brisbane Broncos to the Queensland Reds in 2001 created many headlines, as did his move at the end of the 2005 Super 12 season to the New South Wales Waratahs.
Career
Rugby league
Sailor as a young man chose to pursue a rugby league career, though he had the option to look into a track career because of his speed. In his inaugural year for the Brisbane Broncos, Sailor played in a handful of games, scoring three tries in his first season, [1] though Sailor had limited involvement that year, the club won the premiership, defeating St.George 14-6. After his impressive debut season, he won the Rookie of the Year award at the Broncos club. The following season he took part in more games, scoring 14 tries. [2] Such a rapid improvement over the course of two seasons saw Sailor become a regular in the Broncos ranks. At the end of the 1994 season he was selected for the Kangaroo Tour of Europe, playing in the opening fixture against a Cumbrian side where he scored two tries. He then started off the bench in a warm up match against Leeds, before earning a starting wing spot in the next match against Wigan and then playing off the bench again against Castleford. Sailor was again promoted to a starting wing position for the match against Halifax, scoring two tries. He then earned his first Test cap against Great Britain, as a starting wing in their loss at Wembley Stadium in late October. [3]
He quickly became a home crowd favourite in Brisbane because of his speed and power; he became a household name in the Rugby league world. Following the defection of the Brisbane Broncos to Super League, Wendell had a stellar year in the rebel competition and the Broncos won the premiership, defeating the Cronulla Sharks 26-8 in the final. That same year the Broncos won the World Club Challenge. After the Super League war ended, the Broncos won the inaugural competition of the National Rugby League, defeating the Canterbury Bulldogs 38-12 in the grand final. Sailor spent the Australian summer in England, playing union for Leeds Tykes, scoring 15 tries in 13 games; he also appeared in two of the Leeds Rhinos trial games. [4] Two years later Sailor was again a premiership winning man, the Broncos winning the 2000 title, defeating the Sydney Roosters 14-6. That year he won the Best Back award and the Player of the Year award at the Brisbane Broncos. More success followed for Sailor in 2000 as he traveled to the Europe to compete in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup for Australia. Sailor finished as the tournament's top try scorer as well as boasting two tries in the defeat of the Kiwis in the final. He was named best player of the tournament. Following Australia's world cup victory, Kangaroo coach Chris Anderson stated that "he's up there with Eric Grothe among the best of all time. Following the World Cup, many speculated that Sailor, who was off contract with the Broncos the following year, would sign for an English club in the ESL competition, as many Rugby league stars did. Talks apparently began with leading English clubs Wigan, Leeds and Bradford. [5]
Defection to Rugby union
Sailor shocked the Rugby world on February 7, 2001, when it was announced by the Australian Rugby Union that they had reached an agreement with Rugby league superstar Wendell Sailor regarding a switch to Rugby union. Sailor signed a letter of intent with the ARU in February as well as signing with the Queensland Reds. The deal was formally completed in July, with Sailor set to leave League on the first day of November. [6] He finished his career at the Broncos with 110 tries, one goal for 442 points over 189 first grade games as well as 23 test caps for Australia. Media throughout the country were exploratory of how much money he was being given and large figures were thrown around during his switch. Reports ran wild in the media, claiming that he was getting paid over the sum of $700,000. The ARU would then calm the speculation and announce that the money offered to Sailor was not excessive and that he would not be paid more any than current leading Wallaby players. Sailor would make it clear that it is his desire to play Rugby and that the switch was not based on whatever riches may have been offered to him. [7] Some Rugby union fans were unconvinced whether the 26 year old would be able to maintain his greatness in another code. This uncertainty was fueled when Wendell remained without a try for his first six games in the Super 12, however in his seventh match he scored twice and narrowly missed out on a hat-trick, pleasing those who had doubts. This same year he made his international debut against France. Sailor then released a book, Crossing Over which detailed his troubles he had in changing codes and describes the differences between the two. The following season he thrived and showed that he has made quick adaptations to his new game.
In 2003 he was selected for the Wallabies to participate in the World Cup. Sailor was selected for the opening match between Australia and Argentina, where he scored the first try of the 2003 RWC in front of 81,350 at Telstra Stadium. That was the only try he scored in the whole World Cup. After the win over Argentina, Sailor retained his position on the wing and was part of the 90 - 8 thrashing of Romania. Sailor along with several other players were rested for the match against Namibia. Sailor returned to his position on the wing for wins over Ireland, Scotland and New Zealand. He was subsequently dropped from the starting line up and replaced by other league convert Lote Tuqiri for the final against England.
Sailor came off contract with the Reds after the 2005 Super 12 season, media speculated that he would either move to Japan or sign with new franchise Western Force. However, he again rocked the Rugby world when he signed with Reds rivals New South Wales Waratahs to play in the 2006 season. It was a shock because Sailor had been a Queenslander his whole career and had always been playing against the sky blue jerseys of NSW. The controversial switch from the Reds to the Waratahs would come to a boiling point before the season opener between the two rivals in the new Super 14 competition. In response to a marketing campaign that was targeting him, Sailor and the Reds fired shots at each other via the media during the buildup. The Waratahs won the opening game of the 2006 season at Suncorp Stadium against Queensland. Sailor encountered considerable heckling from the Queensland crowd.
Cocaine Controversy
Sailor was involved in a controversy in a trip to South Africa, whilst injured, he had a confrontation with a patron in a pub. He was suspended for a number of matches, but returned in round six, scoring two tries in the win over fellow Australian team, the Western Force.
On May 13 2006, hours before the final pool match of the Super 14 competition, it was announced that Sailor was to be suspended indefinitely from representing either the NSW Waratahs or Australian Rugby Team after returning a positive drug test. Sailor's manager confirmed in a statement it was a doping offence.[8] The NSW Waratahs went on to lose a tight game against the Wellington Hurricanes, ensuring the Super 14 semi-final would be held in Wellington. Sailor's absence was noted at the semi final, with the Eric Clapton hit "Cocaine" cheekily played over the public address system during a stoppage in play. The NSW Waratahs lost the game.
After WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) tests confirmed that Sailor's urine 'A' sample from the pre-match test had contained indicators of cocaine, Sailor chose to have the second half of his sample retested. The second test results were not published to the media within the timeframe expected, leading to speculation that Sailor's 'B' sample had proved inconclusive or been mishandled, thereby providing an opportunity for appeal[9]. Eventually the 'B' sample results were announced, and proved to be positive.
The ASADA (Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency) immediately banned Sailor from competitive sport within Australia for 2 years. In an attempt to get the ban overturned or reduced, Sailor made an appeal to the ARU Judicial Body, asserting that he had not ingested cocaine within the 96 hours prior to the urine sample being taken. He further argued that he received no performance-enhancing benefits from cocaine, and that the clear scientific evidence is that cocaine is a short-acting stimulant that has effect for no more than two hours at most and that neither it nor its metabolites could have any performance enhancing benefit if taken more than 96 hours before a match. [10]
Sailor claimed that because of the time lapse of more than four days, the cocaine could not be deemed as used "in competition", and so was not a prohibited substance.
When quizzed by the ARU Judiciary, Sailor admitted that during previous drug tests he had received anti-doping information cards which carry the warning that all elite athletes are responsible for any banned substance in their system. When asked whether he was aware that cocaine is a banned substance, he confirmed that he was. The ARU upheld that whether Sailor considered the substance performance-enhancing or not, Sailor was aware that cocaine was a banned substance at the time of ingestion, and refused to reduce or overturn the ban. [11]
On 23rd July, Sailor penned a column in the Sydney Sunday Telegraph explaining his actions and apologising to his fans and family, the first public confession or apology he made since the incident came to light. [12]
Sailor's dramatic exit from rugby was as controversial and well-publicised as his transfer from rugby league. His supporters still claim his onfield genius in both attack and defence is needed within Australian Rugby, and that he is a honorable, big-hearted, generous man with a lot to bring to the sport who made an error of judgement and was heavily punished for it by the ARU. His detractors point to a chequered past involving numerous on- and off-field indiscretions, and a lack of common sense coupled with a big ego. Either way, he will be long remembered as one of the most controversial sportsmen in Australia.
Sailor is not the first of the Wallabies to be involved in prohibited substance scandals.
In March 2001, Ben Tune was involved in a doping scandal the prohibited substance probenecid (not a performance-enhancing drug in itself, but a masking agent for anabolic steroids). Bewilderingly, ASDA and the ARU chose not to test Tune despite knowing that Tune had a banned substance in his system, and the ARU did not enforce a ban on Tune. [13]
See also
References
- ^ Wendell to set sail for Super League BBC October 25, 2000. Retrieved February 17, 2006.
- ^ Sailor completes code switch BBC July 2, 2001. Retrieved February 17, 2006.
- ^ Wendell Sailor* RLeague Retrieved February 17, 2006.
- ^ Australian Tour of Europe 1994 details hunterlink Retrieved February 17, 2006.
- ^ Sailor stood down over doping, manager says ABC Sport Retrieved May 14, 2006.
- ^ Wendell test may be tainted Sunday Times Wednesday, June 7, 2006
- ^ Sailor faces doping ban CNN International Friday, June 9, 2006
- ^ Wendell's chances - slim, unlikely and none Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved June 15, 2006
- ^ Sailor Banned for Two Years Daily Telegraph July 21, 2006
- ^ Sailor argument naive News24
- ^ No-one can call me a drug cheat Sunday Telegraph July 23, 2006
- ^ WADA concerned by Gregan caffeine claims ABC Sport May 18, 2005
- ^ Tune to face Springboks BBC SportWednesday, 14 August, 2002