Former anti-doping chief says Hayne unlikely to play at Rio Olympics

The former chief of Australia’s own anti‑doping authority has poured cold water on Jarryd Hayne’s new dream of playing Rugby 7s for Fiji at the Rio Olympics.

Former ASADA boss Richard Ings responded to news Hayne had quit the NFL to join the Fiji camp as early as this week ahead of the London Sevens by questioning his eligibility to even play.

News.com.au says Ings stated Hayne would be unlikely to play any professional sport, including rugby sevens, for at least six months pending time spent in a registered drug‑testing pool.

The NFL does not comply with the world anti‑doping agency’s code, meaning any player looking to switch from American football must first undergo intense drug screening before being deemed able to play professional sport elsewhere.

Ings said this morning he expected World Rugby Sevens to step in and veto Hayne’s Rio bid.

The six‑month return to competition rule is standard across most sports for athletes returning to international competition.

Hayne and World Rugby are yet to respond to Ings’ tweets.

Meanwhile Jarryd Hayne says a chance to represent Fiji at the Rio Olympics would be smiliar to the opportunity he was given in the NFL.

In a statement on his retirement from the NFL, Hayne said the Olympics have been something he has admired since he was a little boy and that this is the reason he had chosen to play for Fiji.

Hayne said the past 12 months with the San Francisco 49ers have been absolutely incredible.

He said he could not pass the chance of playing for the Fiji rugby sevens team when they reached out to him about the opportunity to join the team for the upcoming Olympics.

Hayne will travel to London tomorrow to join the Vodafone Fiji 7s team.

Vodafone Fiji 7s Coach Ben Ryan told World Rugby that there are no promises that Hayne will make the final 12 but he will see how things go.

Ryan says it is a huge challenge for Hayne but if he gets into the squad it is only going to be on form.

Fiji is pooled with Wales, Australia and England in the London 7s.

The national side will face England at 11.04pm Saturday in their first pool match of the London 7s.

Fiji will then play Wales at 1.48am Sunday while the last pool match against Australia will be at 4.54am Sunday.

The Cup Quarterfinals will start at 9:58pm Sunday while the Cup semifinals will kick off at 1:48am Monday.

The Cup final will kick off at 4:57am Monday.