Sailor given week to challenge dope test

Wendell Sailor

Wallaby and Waratahs winger Wendell Sailor has a week to challenge the positive drug test that has forced his indefinite suspension from rugby union.

Sailor was stood down before Saturday night's 19-14 loss to the Wellington Hurricanes in Sydney for an alleged serious breach of the Australian Rugby Union's code of conduct.

Rugby authorities had been informed on Friday that an A sample provided by Sailor had tested positive to a banned substance.

It's understood the 31-year-old may have tested positive to the recreational drug cocaine.

Sailor's Wallaby team-mate Nathan Sharpe described the news of Sailor's positive test as "shattering".

"That's shattering for big Dell. He's a good mate of mine and if that's the case I'm very shattered for him. Hopefully he's going to come out of this all right," he said.

Sailor has been in trouble three times in the past 10 months for drunkenness and breaking curfew.

The rugby league convert was banned for three weeks in February after an incident in a South African nightclub.

Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie refused to speculate on Sailor's future, preferring instead to wait until the ARU and New South Wales Rugby Union's investigations were complete.

"I'm not going to sit in judgement until the whole thing's sorted out and we can talk formally, then I'll let my opinions be known at the right time," he said.

Sailor can request the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) to test a B sample before any further action can be taken against him.

If he does not, or if the second test also proves positive, Sailor faces a possibly career-ending two-year ban.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA