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SYDNEY - Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri will not play again before the World Cup after being banned for two matches and fined $20,000.
He will miss Saturday's Tri-Nations clash with South Africa and the Bledisloe Cup decider against New Zealand in Auckland on July 21.
An Australian Rugby Union statement said Tuqiri was punished for breaching team standards.
Tuqiri, who failed to attend a team medical appointment and recovery session on Monday, was later breath tested on the request of team managers. He returned a reading above team limits.
The Wallabies team disciplinary committee proposed suspending him for one game and imposing a A$20,000 ($22,209) fine. Union chief executive John O'Neill consulted with management before imposing the two-match suspension.
The winger was serving a two-match suspended sentence over his behaviour in Cape Town in July 2005.
"The agreement that no off-field indiscretions were to occur for two years has been broken and there is no alternative but to impose a two-match suspension beginning with this Saturday's test," O'Neill said.
Tuqiri said he had a few drinks on Sunday night. He had misread his diary and missed his scheduled meetings.
The suspension is expected to cost Tuqiri A$43,000, including A$23,000 in match fees.
* It is understood the All Blacks have no breath-testing procedures.
- AAP
