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The Gold Coast Titans have responded to the drugs incident involving co-captain Kevin Proctor, fining the forward $20,000 and suspending him from playing for four matches.
The club also ordered Proctor to do 50 hours of drug and alcohol prevention-related community service.
"The Board has taken a strong stance with Kevin despite his four-match suspension potentially damaging the club's prospects over the coming month as we seek to remain in finals contention," chief executive officer Graham Annesley said in a statement.
"He has also let his team-mates down and seriously disappointed our members and commercial partners."
- Cronulla chairman Damian Keogh - stood down following drugs possession charges.
- Sydney Roosters' Shaun Kenny-Dowall - stood down following drugs possession charges.
- Gold Coast Titans' co-captain Kevin Proctor - fined, suspended following drugs incident. No charges laid.
- Melbourne Storm's Jesse Bromwich suspended, counselled, stood aside from leadership group following drugs incident. No charges laid.
- Cronulla under-20s player Jesse Savage referred to NRL Integrity Unit following drug possession charges.
The 28-year-old had already announced he was standing down from his leadership role and playing duties following the incident in Canberra in the hours after the Anzac Test between Australia and New Zealand last Friday night.
The Titans announced they would maintain his absence as co-captain "until further notice".
In the statement, the club noted that although the sanctions might be viewed as harsh, the over-riding view of the board was "there must be a very strong message sent that any form of illicit drug use is unacceptable and has to be driven out of the game."
"I am pleased to say Kevin has shown tremendous remorse since we first spoke with him last Sunday," Annesley said in the statement.
"Once again today he faced up to the consequences of his actions and accepted full responsibility.
"He also accepted the penalty handed down with good grace and apologised to the Board for everything he has put the club through in recent days."
On Monday, the New Zealand Rugby League axed Proctor and Kiwis captain Jesse Bromwich — who was also involved in the incident— announcing they would not be considered for selection for the Rugby League World Cup later this year.
The incident involving Proctor and Bromwich is just one of a number of damaging pieces of news for the NRL on the drugs front in recent days.
Cronulla chairman and former Australian basketball star Damian Keogh stepped aside from his role on Saturday after he was charged with possessing a prohibited drug.
Sydney Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall is also facing drug possession charges and has been stood down by his club after being arrested in Sydney last Thursday, while a Sharks under-20s player, Jesse Savage, was arrested later on the weekend.
Topics: sport, rugby-league, nrl, drug-use, robina-4226, qld, australia
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