Segeyaro ready to fight ban

FORMER Brisbane and Cronulla rake James Segeyaro says he is ready to fight a four-year ban as his legal team prepares to turn the heat on Sports Integrity Australia (SIA) and the National Rugby League (NRL).
Almost 10 months after he underwent a random drug test, the Papua New Guinea international finally received a notice from the NRL last week informing him of his suspension and presenting him with the opportunity to front a tribunal to argue his case.
It has been a long and frustrating wait for the 29-year-old.
Segeyaro’s lawyer Tim Fuller has made no secret of his anger with SIA – the umbrella organisation that has now taken over the duties of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (Asada) – and documented the source of his frustrations in an email to The Weekend Australian.
“We have had indigenous players reach out to James Segeyaro on regular basis and they have expressed their concern with the time this has taken and (his) wellbeing,” Fuller said.
“Does anyone seriously think the Australian captain would be put through a process like this?
“James does not have the same standing in the game as a leading player – but he deserves the right to be treated fairly and compassionately.
“We need to provide additional support to our indigenous athletes – not ostracise them in situations of duress such as this.”
Segeyaro returned a positive test to ligandrol.
He told Asada that the substance had entered his system when he used the blender of his former housemate.
It is understood the housemate has provided sworn statements verifying Segeyaro’s version of events.
Fuller has indicated that they will put the focus on the Broncos over the role the club played in finding accommodation for Segeyaro when he joined the club.
It is understood Brisbane deny they put Segeyaro in a vulnerable position.
The NRL integrity unit has also reviewed the circumstances and are believed to be comfortable with the Broncos’ handling of the situation.
“We have indicated to the NRL that James intends to appear before a league anti-doping tribunal,” Fuller said.
“We will be examining the role of certain people in positions of responsibility and their role in how an indigenous player came to be placed in a rental situation with a person who was using prohibited substances.
“In other words, he was placed in to this environment by his former club.
“There is absolutely no way that we will allow James to be thrown under the bus by the NRL for something that he did not intentionally do – and has never been involved in during a career of more than 150 NRL first-grade games,” Fuller added. – The Australian