Segeyaro’s ban reduced

SPORT Integrity Australia (SIA) has left the door ajar to appeal a 20-month drugs ban handed to Papua New Guinea international James Segeyaro, who will be free to return to the National Rugby League (NRL) in June after testing positive to a banned substance from using a housemate’s blender.
The 30-year-old can now talk to NRL clubs after being in the rugby league wilderness for 16 months having had Ligandrol found in his system during a September 2019 test.
Segeyaro, who was tested while he was contracted to the Broncos, convinced the NRL’s anti-doping tribunal that the substance had entered his system inadvertently.
His legal team provided expert witnesses which claimed residue from Di-Hydroxy LGD-4033 could still be present in a blender even after being washed multiple times, while his housemate admitted to buying the product.
The decision is a massive boost to Segeyaro’s hopes of resurrecting his rugby league career, which can resume on June 3.
But SIA said yesterday that they would examine the NRL anti-doping tribunal’s decision before deciding whether to challenge the ruling in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
On the Segeyaro decision, SIA said in a statement: “Chief executive David Sharpe says the agency will consider the decision in greater detail prior to making a decision regarding any appeal.”
Segeyaro looms as potentially a handy back-up option at No.9 for an NRL club after originally fearing his 154-game career, which has spanned the Cowboys, Panthers, Sharks and Broncos, could have ended prematurely.
He had been privately frustrated with the length of the anti-doping process, but has maintained his resolve to clear his name and step foot on an NRL field again.
“It was very pleasing to see the way the tribunal handled the entire matter,” said Segeyaro’s lawyer, Gadens special counsel Tim Fuller.
“His integrity, honesty and character was acknowledged by the tribunal.
“Further, there was no evidence or even a suggestion that he attempted to source this substance.
“It was a contamination case that centred on his flatmate and that was demonstrated and recognised at the hearing.”– SMH