New Zealand born Gold Coast forward Kevin Proctor has been given a four-match NRL ban by the Titans for last weekend's cocaine scandal.
Kiwis and Gold Coast Titans player Kevin Proctor. Photo: Photosport
Proctor met with the Titans' board on Wednesday to discuss the allegations he and New Zealand teammate Jesse Bromwich used cocaine outside a Canberra nightclub following last week's Anzac Test.
Proctor's ban is twice the length of that imposed by Melbourne on Bromwich, who was given his sentence by the Storm earlier in the week.
In addition to his ban, Proctor has been fined $20,000 and will remain excluded from his club co-captaincy role until further notice.
The 28-year-old will also have to complete 50 hours of community service, primarily in drug and alcohol prevention programs.
Titans chief executive Graham Annesley said Proctor let his teammates down and seriously disappointed the clubs members and commercial partners.
"Of course, as a football club our priority is to win as many games as possible, but if we have to suffer some pain in order to drive the message home then so be it."
Both Proctor and Bromwich have been deemed ineligible for selection by the New Zealand Rugby League for this year's World Cup.
Annesley said Proctor has shown remorse and apologised but a stern stance had to be taken.
"We take our responsibility to the community seriously and we will not walk away from tough decisions just to increase our chances of on-field success," he said.
Proctor's ban means he'll miss matches against the Storm, Manly, North Queensland and Warriors.
Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters loose sponsors over drug scandals
Both clubs were sent into damage control after Sharks chairman Damian Keogh, under-20s player Jesse Savage and Roosters star Shaun Kenny-Dowall were allegedly caught in possession of cocaine.
But the clubs have reportedly lost more than $1 million in sponsorship over the NRL's cocaine scandal.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall Photo: Photosport
Infinity Group Australia has informed the Sharks and Roosters they are withdrawing their backing after both clubs' names had been dragged through the mud over the past five days, according to News Corp Australia.
The clubs appear set to pay a hefty toll for the saga, with the financial advice company reportedly pulling its two-year deal for the Sharks' back-of-jersey sponsorship worth $700,000 and ripping up its $300,000 contract with the Roosters.
Keogh has stepped down from his role with the premiers after allegedly being caught in possession of a small bag of the drug on Friday night at a Woolloomooloo pub.
Kenny-Dowall is set to face court later in the month after also being arrested with just under half a gram of the drug last Friday in a Sydney CBD club.
Savage became the fifth rugby league player or official dragged into the scandal on Sunday morning when he was allegedly caught with 1.4 grams of cocaine at a Cronulla nightclub.
Infinity Group, the Roosters and Sharks have all been approached for comment.
-AAP
