Geelong has come down hard on premiership forward Mathew Stokes, suspending him until Round 8 of the AFL season and fining him a maximum $5000 after he was charged with drug possession and trafficking last week.
The sanctions were decided by the club's leadership group after a meeting with Stokes last Thursday.
Following discussion with the club's board and the AFL, the club accepted the recommendation of the leadership group and advised Stokes of the penalties.
The sanctions are:
- Stokes has been suspended from consideration for selection in the club's AFL team until Round 8, 2010.
- From Monday February 8 until Round 1 of the AFL season, Stokes can train at the club only when no other players are present.
- From Round 1 to Round 4 of the AFL season, Stokes can train with the club's VFL listed players only.
- From Round 5 to Round 7 of the AFL season, Stokes can train with the VFL squad and will be eligible to play in the VFL.
- From Round 8, Stokes will be eligible to train with the full squad and for selection in the club's AFL team.
- Stokes will be fined $5,000, the maximum sanction under the AFL player's code of conduct.
- Between now and Round 4 of the AFL season, Stokes is to find full time employment and conduct any training out of working hours.
- Stokes is to establish a relationship with a drug-related community program and assist with that program on an on-going basis.
"These sanctions do not speak to Mathew Stokes' guilt or innocence on the charges issued by the Victoria Police on Wednesday, and will stand regardless of the outcome of those charges," the Cats said in a statement.
"The penalty does not take into account any possible action under the anti-doping code, as the club does not have jurisdiction in this area."
If he is found guilty of trafficking then he faces a life-time AFL ban under the World Anti-Doping Agency code.
The club stood Stokes down after he appeared in court on Wednesday and was released on bail. He is due to face court again on March 12.