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Full marks for Del for coming out in the media at what must be a terribly tough time, on the anniversary of his demise and with his team going fairly ordinary.
He may be a lot of things but he has always seemed a very loyal person and the impact on the Tahs and especially his family seem to have impacted him the most.
Good on you Del, hopefully your public "shame" may stop others from taking drugs
Sailor admits drugs aren't cool
By Jon Geddes, Daily Telegraph
April 03, 2007
Wendell Sailor is approaching the anniversary he never wanted to celebrate; this time last year when he got busted for drugs and kicked out of rugby for two years.
"It brings a few memories back, so it will be a pretty emotional week for me," Sailor said yesterday in an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph.
"There is nothing cool about it. They are not recreational drugs, they are killer drugs, and you are playing Russian roulette if you take them."
Sailor returned his positive drug test after playing for New South Wales against the Brumbies on April 16 last year, sending his high-profile career into freefall.
"I'll be honest, I got caught up in the lifestyle and I paid a big price," he said.
"I'm not talking money wise. I am talking about my reputation, which has certainly been tainted."
But the flamboyant wing has never been one to hide from the consequences of his actions.
Yesterday, he spoke openly about the devastating experience in the hope it serves as a salutary lesson to young players.
"When I moved from Sarina to join the Brisbane Broncos as an 18 year old, I hadn't had a drink or done anything really," Sailor said.
"I turned 21 and I had my first drink with the Broncos. There is a peer group pressure thing.
"Then in the last few years I got to the stage where I thought it was OK to socially take drugs, and that is not the case. It was stupidity."
At the same time, Sailor was also dealing with underlying personal issues which he has always kept private.
"It wasn't drugs or drinking, but I remember I got to the stage where I thought those two were OK to numb the pain a bit," he said.
"I think in the last year, it has helped me to face that and now I think I am a better person for it.
"It's probably a bit of karma."
Sailor emphasised he did not take drugs to enhance his his performance on the field.
"I'm not a drug cheat but at the same time if you play with drugs you are going to get burned," he said.
"At the end of the day, athletes are accountable for what we put in our bodies and the whole time I never used excuses to say what I took."
Having to tell his mother about his positive test was the darkest time in Sailor's life.
"She was pretty shattered. You don't want to have to put your mum through that," he said.
"It was gut-wrenching and I'm not a person who likes to put family or friends in a bad place.
"My father didn't hit me much, but if he was around he would have given a clip over the ear.
"For about a month there last year I thought I was the worst person in the world, especially as I am usually so up and at 'em."
Eventually it was while working with the charity Youth In Search, where many children are abused, addicted to speed or attempt suicide, that Sailor got his act together.
"I thought there was no point feeling sorry for yourself, so I snapped out if it and said, 'OK, let's get out, face this and try to make it positive'," he said.
As he battled through the toughest period of his life, Sailor also learned who his real friends are.
He said coaches Wayne Bennett at the Broncos and Eddie Jones during his time with thhe Australian Rugby Union and Tony Dempsey from the Rugby Union Players Association had stood by him.
"Sometimes all you need is people to believe in you," he said.
There is no doubt the Waratahs miss Sailor's presence on and off the field this season and he still feels he let down coach Ewen McKenzie and the players.
"It's very frustrating, I'd love nothing more than to be playing right now and helping those guys out," he said.
Sailor believes there should be a consistent policy among the sports in relation to drug sanctions, citing the example of North Queensland forward Mitchell Sargent, who had his contract ripped up when he returned a positive test.
He also advocates a two-strike policy with a life ban for a second offence.
"Everyone needs one chance. Three strikes and I think and you are letting the problem go," he said.
Despite his lay-off, Sailor said he was fit enough to play tomorrow.
"I want to come back and finish on the right note," he said.
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Originally Posted by Burgs
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