Queensland Reds player Karmichael Hunt has been fined $30,000, suspended for six weeks, and stripped of his vice-captaincy by rugby union authorities after pleading guilty to drug charges.
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A Gold Coast court fined Hunt $2500 earlier on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to four counts of cocaine possession.
But Southport magistrate Catherine Pirie did not impose a conviction on the 28-year-old, citing his lack of prior criminal history and remorse as factors in her decision.
A conviction would have stymied any chance of the code-hopping football player playing internationally.
In the wake of the court outcome, the Australian Rugby Union and Queensland Rugby Union suspended Hunt for six weeks, fined him $30,000, and stripped him of the Queensland Reds vice-captaincy.
"Karmichael has accepted these penalties despite being contracted to another code during the time in question," according to a joint statement from the rugby union authorities.
Hunt was one of 10 present and former football players across two codes caught in a Crime and Corruption sting targeting cocaine trafficking in South East Queensland.
The investigation targeted drug dealing former Sydney Roosters player John Touma, who played under the name John Thomas, from whom Hunt admitted he bought cocaine from four times in September and October last year.
Hunt is the first charged by the CCC to plead guilty.
The one-time NRL Bisbane Broncos player and former player for the AFL's Gold Coast Suns was charged with four counts of supplying cocaine by the CCC last month.
However, the charges were dismissed on Thursday, after Hunt agreed to plead guilty to four counts of possession.
Outside the court he said he was relieved with the outcome.
'It's been a difficult couple of weeks for myself and my family,' Hunt said.
'We're just looking forward to putting this… process behind us and moving on.'
The Reds player bought cocaine four times last year as part of a "misguided, post-season celebration that went on for a month", a Gold Coast court has heard.
Hunt, 28, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday morning where he formally entered a guilty plea to four counts of drug possession.
Wayne Bennett was one of several people who gave references to court about Hunt.
EARLIER:
Police prosecutor Kristy Johnson told the court that Hunt contacted the main target of the CCC probe, former Sydney Roosters player John Touma, four times to buy cocaine in September and October last year.
On three of those occasions, he paid $1100 for 3.5 grams of the drug.
The fourth time he bought two grams for an undisclosed amount.
He is then alleged to have distributed it among friends.
Hunt was originally charged with four counts of supplying cocaine.
Those charges had been set aside and would be dealt with at the end of the hearing, Sergeant Johnson said.
In defence of Hunt, barrister Alistair McDougall said his client "made a series of very poor choices and will be paying for those choices for the rest of his life".
The father-of-two was supported in court by his parents and his father-in-law.
Mr McDougall said Hunt's purchase of the drugs was made as part of a misguided post-season celebration.
He urged the magistrate to impose a fine by way of a penalty.
"He has shown significant remorse by entering an early plea at the very first mention date, his words were, 'it's very easy to deal with an issue when you tell yourself the truth'," Mr McDougall said.
Mr MacDougall said the key concern for Hunt was the impact the publicity would have on his two young daughters and unborn child as they grew up.
"That is the most important thing to him and at the forefront of his mind," he said.
He described the charges as "a massive wake-up call" for Hunt.
Magistrate Catherine Pirie has adjourned the court until midday for sentencing.
Gold Coast Titans players Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling also appeared in court, with a magistrate swiftly adjourning drugs charges against until May 8.
Lawyers for the pair have previously stated they intend to fight charges of cocaine supply and possession.
Hunt arrived about 10 minutes later than Falloon and Dowling. He had no comment to media as he entered the building.
THURSDAY MORNING:
Queensland Reds player Karmichael Hunt and Gold Coast Titans players Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling have arrived at the Southport Magistrates Court where they face drug charges.
Falloon, Dowling, and Queensland Reds player Karmichael Hunt have been charged with drug offences as part a Queensland corruption watchdog probe.
Hunt was the last to arrive at the Gold Coast court.
Queensland's corruption watchdog, the Crime and Misconduct Commission, alleges that during an investigation centred on a cocaine trafficking syndicate in South East Queensland, the four people were identified contacting the syndicate and arranging for the supply of cocaine.
The commission alleges the three men and one woman arranged the supply of cocaine for personal use and to pass on to friends and colleagues between June and December 2014.
The foursome were issued on February 19 with notices to appear in court on drug charges.
