Carlton president Luke Sayers’ wife QUITS their Inclusion Foundation charity – as he is cleared over the shocking d*** pic scandal

The wife of former Carlton president Luke Sayers has quietly quit as a director of the charity they started together as the couple reel from the fallout over an explicit post on his X account.

Cate Sayers left her position as a director at Inclusion Foundation, a charity which helps kids with Down syndrome, in October, while her husband remains on the board.

The couple also put their Melbourne mansion in ritzy Hawthorn East up for sale the same month.

It sold 29 days later on November 28 for $16.5million, although neighbours told Daily Mail Australia they had rarely seen Mr Sayers there in recent years.

The couple’s charity was also aligned with Carlton and participated in matchday activities involving Blues games.

Confirmation of Ms Sayers’ departure from the charity as a director comes after a picture of a penis was posted on her husband’s social media account.

It also tagged in a female executive with one of Carlton’s sponsors, health insurance firm BUPA, but Mr Sayers later dismissed having any connection to her.

The post was deleted 13 minutes later, when Mr Sayers – who was on holiday in Italy at the time – posted another update saying his account had been hacked. 

Cate Sayers left her position as a director at Inclusion Foundation, which helps kids with Down syndrome, in October while husband Luke (pictured with his wife) remains on the board

Luke Sayers (right) stood down as Carlton president on Wednesday in the wake of the embarrassing row

Luke Sayers (right) stood down as Carlton president on Wednesday in the wake of the embarrassing row

An AFL investigation found Sayers was not responsible for sending the graphic sexual image from his X account on January 9

An AFL investigation found Sayers was not responsible for sending the graphic sexual image from his X account on January 9

An AFL investigation has since confirmed Mr Sayers did not make the graphic post, but he stood down as Carlton president on Wednesday in the wake of the row.

Mr Sayers also quit his role as chairman of his consulting company, Sayers Group.

The lifelong Carlton supporter quit the Blues, effective immediately, just minutes after the AFL’s Integrity Unit published its findings backing him over the post on January 9.

BUPA has now also cancelled its naming rights for the club’s Run for Respect event on February 2, which is being held to raise funds for the Blues’ charity work.

The company insisted BUPA will keep its relationship going with Carlton. 

But a spokesman added: ‘BUPA continues to prioritise the wellbeing, privacy and safety of our employee.’

The end of Sayers’ 12-year involvement with the club at an executive level was revealed in his emotional statement on Wednesday afternoon.

‘Leading the Carlton Football Club has been one of the great honours and privileges of my life,’ he said.

Sayers, a lifelong Carlton supporter, quit his post with the Blues effective immediately

Sayers, a lifelong Carlton supporter, quit his post with the Blues effective immediately  

Sayers with Tom De Koning, pop start Robbie Williams and Carlton coach MIchael Voss

Sayers with Tom De Koning, pop start Robbie Williams and Carlton coach MIchael Voss

‘I leave knowing the club is in great shape, and with my deepest gratitude for its understanding and support.

‘I deeply regret that other people including my family, friends and colleagues and football club have been caught up in this matter.

‘The past two weeks have been very tough for everyone who has been impacted by an unauthorised social media post.

‘I did not post the image, either deliberately or accidentally, I am aware of speculation that the naming of another person in the post explains why it happened.

‘It does not, and that narrative is wrong.’

The AFL made the ruling after the league’s Integrity Unit concluded its investigation, which began last week, noting that Sayers and the Carlton club had assisted with its inquiries.

‘The integrity unit’s inquiries, which included multiple interviews and review of other evidence, have now concluded,’ a statement from the league said.

‘The AFL has found, based on the available evidence, that access to Mr Sayers’ X account was compromised, resulting in the posting of the image (i.e. by a person not being Mr Sayers) and tagging of another person.’

Mr Sayers noticed the shock post after it had been online for 12 minutes, the probe found, before he hastily deleted the image and apologised to followers.

‘Sorry, my account has been hacked – please ignore all posts,’ he wrote. 

The father-of-four’s account, which had more than 7,300 followers, was deleted but the post had already been reposted and screen-grabbed by other X users.

Sayers was criticised for the delay in making his statement while he was in Europe on a luxurious family holiday

Sayers was criticised for the delay in making his statement while he was in Europe on a luxurious family holiday

Sayers and his family hit the European ski slopes

Sayers and his family hit the European ski slopes

He told Daily Mail Australia he was ‘outraged’ by the alleged attack when the news first broke.

‘This is outrageous. I’m investigating and will leave no stone unturned finding out who did this to me and my family,’ he said. 

Mr Sayers was criticised for the delay in making his statement while he was in Europe on a luxurious family holiday.

He reportedly failed to answer questions for a week while there were calls for him to stand down from the top job at Carlton until the matter was investigated.

Photos posted on social media show him seemingly carefree and smiling as he enjoyed up the trip, which took in spots such as Paris, Milan and the Italian ski fields.

In a statement to members, Carlton said it has ‘continued to connect with those involved, including individuals and corporate partners to provide ongoing care and support’.

‘Alongside the conclusion of the AFL Integrity Unit inquiry, and in line with the club’s Workplace Integrity and Cultural Safety framework, the club established a process led by Christopher Townshend KC, to ensure the club gathered an informed and impartial understanding of the matter,’ the club said in a statement.

‘Accordingly, the AFL has determined that Mr Sayers did not breach AFL Rules in connection with the posting of the image.’

Carlton’s pre-season has got off to a rocky start with elite defender Nic Newman out for the season after doing his knee.

Dangerous utility Alex Cincotta is also set to miss early games through injury while the club faced supporter backlash after hard-nut fan favourite Matt Kennedy was traded to the Western Bulldogs.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Sayers for comment. 

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