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SYDNEY - Disgraced Wallabies rugby international Wendell Sailor has been excluded from a beach football tournament because of sponsor's concerns over his drug ban.
The dual Australian rugby and league international was originally listed as one of the drawcards for this weekend's five-a-side tournament in Sydney which features six teams including a Kiwis selection.
But the Daily Telegraph reported Sailor was yesterday withdrawn after major sponsor Harvey Norman decided his presence wasn't a good look for their association with the tournament.
Sailor, 31, is five months into a two-year suspension from rugby after testing positive to cocaine.
Tournament organiser and former Kangaroos international Gorden Tallis confirmed Sailor was a non-starter but wouldn't elaborate, while a Harvey Norman spokeswoman refused to comment.
Big names listed as starters in the tournament at Maroubra beach include Darren Lockyer, Andrew Johns, Mark Gasnier, Willie Mason and Anthony Mundine.
Sailor's drug ban doesn't end until May 2008, but he is reportedly eyeing a return to league.
This week he vowed to campaign against drugs.
"A drug ban is a massive slur on your reputation," Sailor said.
"To be tainted as a drug cheat has made me sick to 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."
- NZPA
