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Penrith Panthers player Tyrone May has been stood down under the NRL's new no-fault policy over allegations he filmed and circulated sex tapes of two women without their consent.
Key points:
- Mr May is stood down under new no-fault guidelines
- The charges come a week after the NRL announced a crackdown on poor player behaviour
- The Panthers released a statement saying they were bracing for more videos to be released
Police alleged Mr May, 22, filmed a sexual act with a woman at Coffs Harbour in February last year as well as with another woman at Kingswood in western Sydney in May.
The 22-year-old was charged with filming two women without their consent last year and disseminating those videos without their permission.
"That is a matter for the courts," NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg said.
"Our new policy provides for the automatic stand-down of players on a no-fault basis where they are charged with serious criminal matters.
"It also provides discretion for players to be stood down for other matters, particularly where the criminal allegations involve women."
The Penrith Panthers backed the NRL's call.
The 22-year-old will be sidelined until his current court proceedings are concluded, but will continue to receive full pay and train with the club.
'In the best interests of the game'
"Panthers acknowledges the seriousness of the charges and agrees the decision is in the best interests of the game," Panthers chairman David O'Neill said.
The Panthers said Tyrone May would deny the allegations when he faced court in May and believed a player at a different club leaked the footage.
Authorities were told the sex acts were consensual but the women were unaware they were being filmed and the footage was being shared without their permission.
The videos were leaked late last week, the day after NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg and Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) boss Peter Beattie announced a crackdown on poor player behaviour.
It is understood the women saw the videos and contacted the police.
The five-eighth was charged with two counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent and disseminating image without consent.
The Panthers said they were bracing for more videos to be released, but denied Mr May was responsible for making the videos public.
"We are aware of the charges, I have spoken to Tyrone May and he will vigorously deny the charges," said Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher.
The Panthers believe a player at another club released the videos and contacted the NRL Integrity Unit. The player is expected to be interviewed today.
Mr May met with the integrity unit on Sunday and yesterday Mr Greenberg said the incident was a reminder for players to be "very careful" around videos and phones.
"If it is stupidity and juvenile behaviour we'll deal with it with a sanction," Mr Greenberg said.
"I have spoken to our integrity unit who I understand are looking through it.
"We will deal with it as it is presented and we will deal with it quickly."
Police issue warning to those who share video
Detective Superintendent Brett McFadden appealed to the public to stop all attempts to identify the victims.
"This is a serious breach of the privacy and rights of our victims, the difficulty is compounded through social media trolling," he said.
"They've been innocently and unreasonably implicated in these matters, causing distress and discomfort."
Detective Superintendent McFadden said what was on the footage was immaterial.
He said anyone who continued to share the video made themselves liable for an offence under 2017 changes to the law.
Penrith winger Josh Mansour yesterday took aim at players sharing of the videos and damaging the games brand.
"The players have got to take responsibility for having the videos in the first place and recording them," Mansour said during a school visit in Sydney's west.
"It's just not right. They're pretty much ruining people's lives for no financial gain, just for the sake of it."
The ARLC announced last week it would stand down players facing "serious indictable offences" — defined as something with a maximum jail term of 11 years or more.
If a player is charged with an offence that carries a maximum penalty of less than 11 years behind bars, club CEOs will have the power to stand a player down where the alleged offence involves women or children.
Mr May has been granted conditional bail and will face court in May.
Topics: nrl, sport, police, law-crime-and-justice, crime, sexual-offences, penrith-2750, nsw, sydney-2000, coffs-harbour-2450, kingswood-2747
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