Tune to face tribunal
July 25, 2002

Wallaby winger Ben Tune must face a drugs tribunal following the news this week that he was treated with a banned substance last year.

The Australian Rugby Union have announced that Tune will face a three-man panel in line with the game's anti-doping procedures following discussions with International Rugby Board.

The three-man panel will decide whether Tune should be banned for playing two Super 12 matches last year after taking probenecid, which is banned by the International Rugby Board (IRB).

The panel, headed by Queen's Counsel John Gleeson and including Dr Geoff Steinweg and former Wallaby John Freedman, has yet to decide when to hear Tune's case.

South African team officials on Friday backed the ARU correctly to handle the Tune issue.

"We have enough confidence in their integrity and that they will do justice to the whole case," Springbok team manager Gideon Sam said. "It's for the ARU and the IRB to sort out. We are not going to doubt their integrity."

Tune and the ARU have been singled out by the South African press since the scandal came to light demanding Tune and the rest fo the Wallaby squad take tests.

"If it would make them feel better I'm more than happy to take a test," Tune told the Courier Mail.

"With South Africa's record in the past (on drugs in rugby), they probably shouldn't be throwing too many stones.

"The South Africans are using a difficult situation to their advantage but who isn't guilty of that sort of thing?

"I've no negativity towards them. We just plan on going out and beating them. I can't wait to play."

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones said Tune had no case to answer and the Australian Rugby Union and QRU should be prepared to face the music if the IRB wanted to take action.

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