Sailor withdraws drugs ban appeal

Sailor's ARU contract was terminated in July

Former Australia winger Wendell Sailor has withdrawn his appeal against a two-year doping ban for taking cocaine.

Sailor was suspended by the Australian Rugby Union after testing positive following a New South Wales match against the ACT Brumbies on 16 April.

"I have decided to withdraw my appeal in the Court of Arbitration of Sport," he said in a statement.

"Ultimately, I accept that it was my error of judgment that has placed me in this position."

Sailor, a dual code rugby union and league international, who played for the Wallabies 37 times, added: "I cannot stress enough that I did not and would never have attempted to cheat in sport through any means.

"Unfortunately I, like many other young Australians, fell to the off-field temptation of a so-called 'party drug'."

Sailor said that while he was banned from playing competitive sport, he would commit himself to educating young athletes on the dangers of banned substances.

The offer was welcomed by Australia's Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).

"The case is a strong reminder to all athletes of the serious consequences under the World Anti-Doping Agency Code for those caught using cocaine," authority chairman Richard Ings said in a statement.

"By warning other athletes about the dangers of drug use, he can play an important role in protecting the integrity of Australian sport."

Sailor has endured a colourful off-field career since making his Wallabies debut in 2003. He was given a two-match suspended sentence for a nightclub incident while touring South Africa in 2005.

He was also fined and suspended for one match by the Waratahs after another South African nightclub incident in February, but the ARU imposed an additional two-match ban and fine for bringing the game into disrepute.

He insists he will return to competitive action once he has served his two-year ban, possibly in his original code of rugby league.