19 Mar 2018

Hunt fined $10,000 by Rugby Australia

6:48 pm on 19 March 2018

Wallabies player Karmichael Hunt has been fined $10,000 and suspended for four matches after pleading guilty to drug possession in a Brisbane court last month.

Hunt was arrested in December for possession and pleaded guilty to possessing alprazolam - a Xanax tablet.

He was fined $600 but avoided a conviction.

A subsequent Rugby Australia disciplinary process has now completed its investigation into the matter.

Karmichael Hunt

Karmichael Hunt Photo: Photosport

In statement Rugby Australia said given Hunt has served a voluntary stand-down since his arrest it was deemed his four-match suspension has been served.

The $10,000 fine will be paid to the Australian Rugby Foundation to support community Rugby initiatives.

In addition, he will be placed on an illicit drug target testing program for a year and will participate in any drug treatment and education programs deemed necessary by Rugby Australia.

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said: "We take all matters of off-field behaviour seriously and have conducted a thorough investigation into the events surrounding Karmichael Hunt's arrest in December, and the subsequent Court proceedings.

"In arriving at today's outcome, we've considered the judgement of the Court and all the evidence we had available relating to Karmichael's arrest, as well as considering the damage that the very public nature of his arrest and the subsequent speculation has inflicted on the game.

"The penalty handed down to Karmichael today also takes into account a previous disciplinary matter for which he was fined and suspended in 2015."