Geelong Cats ban Mathew Stokes until Round 8
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Mon 8th of February 2010
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Source: Herald Sun
THE AFL has given the thumbs up to Geelong's range of sanctions for Mathew Stokes following his drugs charge.
Stokes was charged with trafficking a gram of cocaine last week and the club has been considering its actions since.
He will not be considered for AFL football until Round 8 and cannot be at the club when other players are there until the season starts, among a range of sanctions.
The AFL today said Geelong had kept the league in the loop. The AFL has been informed by the Geelong Football Club today of the sanctions it has imposed against player Matthew Stokes.
The AFL football operations manager, Adrian Anderson, said the AFL supported Geelong’s handling of the matter. “The AFL accepts Geelong’s actions and will continue to work with the club and monitor this issue closely,” he said.
The club stressed its penalties would stand regardless of the outcome of the court case. "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 club 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."
The small forward must also find a full-time job until Round 4 and do all his training outside of work hours.
He is banned from playing VFL until Round 5.
The club’s sanctions imposed on Mathew Stokes are:
Mathew Stokes has been suspended from consideration for selection in the club’s AFL team until round 8, 2010. The suspension will be served in the following manner:
From today until round 1 of the AFL season, Mathew Stokes can train at the club only when no other players are present.
From round 1 - round 4 of the AFL season, Mathew Stokes can train with the club’s VFL listed players only.
From round 5- round 7 of the AFL season, Mathew Stokes can train with the VFL squad and will be eligible to play in the VFL.
From round 8, Mathew Stokes will be eligible to train with the full squad and for selection in the club’s AFL team.
Mathew 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, Mathew Stokes is to find full time employment and conduct any training out of working hours.
Mathew Stokes is to establish a relationship with a drug related community program and assist with that program on an on-going basis.
Mathew Stokes met with the club’s player leadership group (PLG) last Thursday. The PLG considered a variety of sanctions and recommended the foregoing to the CEO. Following discussion with the club’s board and the AFL, the club accepted the recommendation of the PLG and advised Mathew Stokes of the penalties.
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 penalty does not take into account any possible action under the anti-doping code, as the club does not have jurisdiction in this area.
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