Stokes could face lifetime ban if found guilty
By Roger Vaughan, 4 Feb 2010 Roger Vaughan is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- AFL, Geelong Cats, Mathew Stokes
Cameron Mooney and Mathew Stokes of Geelong. Slattery Images
Geelong premiership forward Mathew Stokes faces a lifetime AFL ban if found guilty of trafficking cocaine. Under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, the penalty for trafficking a prohibited substance ranges from four years to a lifetime suspension.
The AFL pointed out the severe penalty, emphasising how seriously they view the Stokes case.
Stokes was charged in Geelong Magistrates Court on Wednesday with trafficking and possessing cocaine and released on bail.
It is alleged Stokes told police he bought one gram of cocaine for a friend, but there is no allegation he used the drug himself.
The Cats have stood Stokes down from all club activities.
“The charge of trafficking is a very serious matter and one that the club and the AFL are treating extremely seriously,” said AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson.
“The AFL supports Geelong’s decision to stand down Stokes until further notice.
“Under the WADA Code, standard penalties for those found guilty of trafficking range from a four-year suspension to a lifetime ban.”
The allegations against Stokes are a massive setback for the Cats as they prepare to defend their second premiership in three years.
Geelong have prided themselves on their player discipline and off-field behaviour over the last three years.
In the wake of their disastrous 2006 season, the club underwent an extensive review and one important element was the team’s culture.
The club suspended forward Steve Johnson at the start of the 2007 season for off-field misbehaviour.
By the end of that season, Johnson had won the Norm Smith Medal as the Cats won their first premiership in 44 years.
Stokes was a significant part of Geelong’s 2007 premiership team, but the forward was unlucky to miss last year’s grand final win over St Kilda after withdrawing from the preliminary final against Collingwood with a groin injury.
Stokes earned great respect for how he dealt with last year’s grand final omission.
As a prank, he dressed up in the club mascot suit for the celebrations on grand final night.
In his four years at Geelong, Stokes has been a favourite with supporters, playing 71 games and kicking 108 goals.
He was also named the club’s 2009 community champion and last November signed a new two-year contract with the Cats.
“This is not a rush to judgement but a reflection on the seriousness of the situation,” Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said of Stokes’ club suspension.
“It is important for Mathew that he deals with legal issues at hand as his first priority.
“As we have in the past, the club will not rush to formulate a long term determination of any penalty.”
Stokes will reappear in Geelong Magistrates Court for a committal mention on March 12.
In December, Newcastle Knights forward Danny Wicks resigned from the NRL club after being charged with eight drug offences.
Police allege Wicks was part of a drugs supply network and he plans to fight the charges.
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Michael DiFabrizio said | February 4th 2010 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Not a very smart move by Mr Stokes at all. However, assuming his side of the story is correct about buying it for mates visiting from the Northern Territory, it’s not as bad as it could’ve been. A lifetime ban would seem way over the top if that’s all that happened.
Redb said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:00am | Report comment
Michael D,
Buying for his mates is trafficking! The minimum penalty is 4 years from the game up to life. Whether its 1 gram or 100 grams – Stokes is in a lot of trouble if the allegations prove true.
Personal use is nothing compared to the charge of trafficking.
Redb
Michael DiFabrizio said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:32am | Report comment
He’s gotten himself into a lot of trouble, yes. Trafficking is real serious. Just saying that it could have been worse (than one gram for a mate) and a lifetime ban would have to be unlikely (if that’s all there is to the story, there could very well be more to it.)
Look, what he did was stupid and dumb and he should’ve known a lot better. No arguments over that from me.
tfield said | February 4th 2010 @ 8:50am | Report comment
very poor form by Mathew Stokes, as he is also a fringe player at best, the cats will want to distance themselves from this. I think his contract should be torn up regardless of the legal outcomes.
Brett McKay said | February 4th 2010 @ 8:57am | Report comment
you must wonder what, if anything, went through his head when he handed over the cash to the dealer, how he justified it to himself.
And then likewise when the drug squad knocked on his door…
Beast-A-Tron said | February 4th 2010 @ 7:13pm | Report comment
Probably rationalised that it was hurting no one else.
Redb said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:02am | Report comment
On a less serious note, you;’d reckon Stokes might be better off without the Pablo Escobar moustache?
http://images.theage.com.au/2010/02/03/1090634/stokes_main-200×0.jpg
Redb said | February 4th 2010 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
News just in from the HS:
“UPDATE 3.05pm: CATS star Mathew Stokes is “shattered” after being charged with drug offences yesterday, Geelong CEO Brian Cook says, while Premier John Brumby backed the clubs action against the forward.
The newly clean-shaven Stokes is staring at a life ban from football over drug-dealing charges that have rocked the AFL.”
———————
Brian Cook said “get rid of that damn tash son”.
Redb
AndyRoo said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Any one else just thing these incidents (Wicks and Cooper too) are just bizare. The odd drinking episode and then mucking up you can kind of predict but players getting done for robbery or drug traficking it feels like it’s back in the days when the game was semi proffesional and their wasn’t big money or media around the game.
My first reaction to all 3 has been “really”…. “no really is that true”…. “nah still don’t believe you”
Michael C said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:15am | Report comment
Kinda curious how the Police would approach this (esp if he were a doctor or landscape gardener instead),
given that it appears a first offence,
that, the police intercepts show that there was a second approach but the transaction never went thru because his mates couldn’t raise the cash – therefore illustrating that Stokes himself was not funding the purchase and then on-selling (i.e. was not generating personal gain from the exercise).
In how many such cases would the police push for a trafficking charge/conviction? or would a lesser charge be agreed upon as an effective warning?
I admit that I have no idea on this front.
And that I recognise him as having done a very, very silly thing and he deserves to be hit relatively hard for his stupidity…..but,…within reason.
tommy said | February 4th 2010 @ 10:16am | Report comment
this is what i was thinking.
additionally prehaps the AFL education system needs to focus on more than just educating about drug use, but also the different aspects- in this case trafficing
Dogz R Barkn said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Pretty poor excuse – I’d say he’s history.
Jay said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:40am | Report comment
awesome moustache!
looks like the afl will give the nrl a run for their money this year in terms of off-field issues.
matthew stokes v danny wicks, andy lovett v greg bird.. what more can we expect?
Dogz R Barkn said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:51am | Report comment
I would hope no more!!
Michael C said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:56am | Report comment
the sad aspect around the AFL thus far is that the major issues (i.e. with the law) are amongst indigenous kids – in Matty Stokes, Andrew Lovett and Troy Taylor,
and the worst example in recent times – of an AFL career ruined and a player going to jail is Andrew Krakouer (another indigenous kid with his father Jimmy having his own jail time).
Art Sapphire said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:55am | Report comment
On the surface, the crime does not look to serious. But then again the Geelong police informed the media that they had been investigating the dealer for 4 months, intercepting phone calls, text messages, etc, etc.
You would think the police would be building some case against the dealer and Stokes got caught up in the investigation.
Looks like the Vic Police have been watching episodes of the The Wire
Tom said | February 4th 2010 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Hard to believe anyone could be that stupid in his position.
Whatever the police do, the AFL will have to make an example of him.
Very, very sad.