It looks pretty much certain now that the career of rugby star Wendell Sailor is over, after the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) just terminated his contract with immediate effect.

The 32-year-old dual international - he represented Australia in rugby union and rugby league - failed a cocaine test in April after a Super 14 match between ACT and his team, the New South Wales Waratahs. He was subsequently dropped from the Waratahs.

ARU chief executive Gary Flowers delivered this crash tackle:

“The use of any illegal drug is contrary to the ethical concepts of sportsmanship, fair play, good medical practice and is potentially harmful to the health of the individual. There is no such thing as recreational drugs, these drugs are illegal … His actions have been nothing short of irresponsible. He already had a track record for poor behaviour.”

His track record included drunken nights, disorderly behaviour and assault. Even if what he did in his own spare time was his own business and not a policy of both codes of rugby, I think this would have been the last straw for officials of these ever more image conscious sports. He has seven days to appeal.

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