Rugby Australia has stood down Karmichael Hunt from all playing and training activities after he was arrested and charged with drug possession in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The 31-year-old Queensland Reds star was searched by police in a car park in at Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am. He was subsequently charged with two counts of drug possession and is set to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 29 January.
RA said on Saturday it had begun its own investigation into the incident and on Sunday, along with Queensland Rugby Union, confirmed Hunt would be stood down immediately “in the best interests of all parties”.
“The parties are awaiting information from the Queensland Police pertaining to the circumstances of the recent allegations before any next steps or return to rugby activities will be contemplated,” the RA statement read.
“Karmichael Hunt is cooperating fully with the Rugby Australia Integrity Unit and Queensland Rugby Union investigation and, given that this is an ongoing police matter, there will be no further comment from the parties.”
It’s not the first time the former NRL and AFL player has been in trouble for drug offences, after he was fined in March 2015 after pleading guilty to four counts of possessing cocaine.
Hunt was one of several professional footballers to be caught up in a Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into a cocaine trafficking ring operating in the state’s southeast.
The investigation also led to several Gold Coast Titans players being charged.
Hunt, who made his debut for the Wallabies this year and has played six times for the national team, was also fined $30,000 and suspended for six weeks by the Australian Rugby Union after his 2015 incident.
A 32-year-old man who was with Hunt at the time has also been issued with a notice to appear.