Wallaby selectors on Wednesday named winger Ben Tune in an unchanged team for this weekend’s Tri-Nations rugby Test with South Africa despite controversy over the player’s use of a banned drug.
Tune’s selection came a day after the International Rugby Board (IRB) asked the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) to give an explanation for his use of the banned drug probenecid while recovering from a
serious knee infection 18 months ago.
Tune subsequently played two Super 12 games with traces of the drug in his system, forcing the Queensland Rugby Union this week to deny it had covered up his use of the substance.
The Queensland Reds winger was given the drug, which helps the body to retain antibiotics, in hospital in March last year.
Probenecid has been banned by the IRB because it can be used as a masking agent to cover the use of steroids.
The affair has thrown the spotlight on drugs in rugby, and has prompted South Africa coach Rudolf Straueli to call for every player to be dope tested ahead of Saturday’s Tri-Nations game against Australia in Sydney.
The IRB entered the controversy on Tuesday, asking the ARU for a timetable of events relating to the Tune case.
In the Australian selection, winger Stirling Mortlock overcame a shoulder injury, forcing hometown favorite Wendell Sailor back to club rugby this weekend, while Queensland flanker David Croft was added to an eight-man bench. – Sapa-AFP