Wendell's war on drugs
December 12, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph
A CONTRITE Wendell Sailor has pledged to turn anti-drugs campaigner after the former Wallaby star last night ended the protracted fight to have his two-year doping ban reduced.
Speaking exclusively to The Daily Telegraph, Sailor revealed he would spend the next 16 months in sporting exile talking to children and rising football stars about the perils of alcohol and drug use.
"I'm willing to cop this and let it be a lesson for any young footballer out there that drugs are just not worth it," Sailor said. "I would have loved to appeal the ban. But this has dragged on for months and it's been very draining." He also spoke of the pain the ordeal had inflicted on his family, saying his late father Daniel would be "very disappointed" if he knew of Sailor's indiscretion.
Handed a two-year ban in July after testing positive to cocaine, Sailor launched an appeal to have his sentenced reduced with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
But Sailor and his legal team yesterday withdrew the appeal, with the dual international taking full responsibility for his actions.
"I didn't always agree with the ban but the fact is I put myself in this position. I've been silly and stupid and I've got to be accountable for my actions," he said.
"A drug ban is a massive slur on your reputation. To be tainted as a drug cheat has made me sick in the guts. I cannot stress enough that I did not and would never have attempted to cheat in sport through any means.
"I'll do whatever it takes to fix things."
Sailor has already begun the path to atonement, having spent the past three months preaching to children and charities about the dangers of substance abuse.
He has also offered to be the face of any plan from the government or the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority to wage war on drugs.
"I'm not hiding from what I've done. At the end of the day, I want to fix things. If I can help any kid or anyone who has a drug problem, I will," Sailor said.
"It was a massive error in judgement but I'll be doing everything in my power to help young footballers out.
"I've been working with some charities for the last couple of months on this issue. I got sick of people saying I should be out there helping because I have been helping. I just didn't want to publicise it.
"Kids know who I am. I won't lie, I've gone down to the local park and kids have asked me, 'Wendell, what happened with the drugs?' I tell them they aren't good for you.
"My son is eight years old now and he's impressionable. I understand I've let a lot of kids and fans down."
Sailor – whose doping ban ceases in May, 2008 – admits he owes it to his family to be productive during his time out of sport.
"I don't want my career to end like this, I'm better than this," said Sailor, who lost his father in 2001.
"I'd have one disappointed dad that I got sucked into this.
"That hurts me."
Sailor, who revealed he had still not heard from the ARU since the ban, said he had received invaluable support from Broncos coach Wayne Bennett and former Wallabies mentor Eddie Jones.
"Wayne has been great. He rang me and said it was a big mistake, I don't know how you got sucked into that lifestyle. But he said we would forever be mates, he's been a father figure for me," he said.
"I can't change what happened but I want to turn a negative into a positive.
"My life has to go on."
