Karmichael steps down from Reds training despite 'dropped' charge

And this just in courtesy of the Australian. "Wallabies and Reds utility back Karmichael Hunt might not be out of the woods yet, with Queensland police issuing a statement yesterday refuting claims that the cocaine possession charge against him had been dropped."

Yes. Doesn’t mean Hunt or anybody he knows was in any way associated though. It was in the CBD. Unlikely they were the only people around all night.

I'm surprised to hear that as I feel it might set a bad precedent if allegations alone can lead to a loss of a career. That being said, I don't know much about the nuances of professional rugby contracts, so you guys probably know more than I do.

I feel you're being deliberately obtuse mate. Drugs were found and so someone is doing drugs. Walk away KH walk away.....that bit isn't rocket science

Fionn I could be wrong but I think it may be the case that they possibly can, given the right circumstances, under bringing the game into disrepute or something similar.

What mate’s? Remember, nobody has been convicted here.

Scott, how will he have violated his contract if the charges are dropped though? The whole point of innocence until proven guilty is that mere allegations can be brought against anyone. They have to be proven first. Do you think his contract would be written in such a way that mere allegations can have him removed?

Actually, I can see how he could be cut for this given it is the second time he has been involved in something that has brought negative publicity to his franchise. Hard to know if he will be though. Probably more likely a suspension but if Thorn is trying to change the culture he may take a harder line.

Piru I don't disagree that it can be hard for some people but I think the Cousins issue is as much about addiction as anything else mate. I don't think anyone is suggesting that Hunt is in that box. (Or at least I hope not for his sake). Most people (the vast majority) go a little off the rails when they are young and bullet proof and then get their act together sometime in their 20's (yep speaking from experience). But Hunt is 30.... is it too late? TWAS Correct, I am not saying he has done anything illegal. Just stupidly hung out with people that do drugs when he is (like it or not) a public figure and a high profile leader in a professional sports team. At some point in your life you wake up and grow up. I just don't think he is there yet and as a result we/he are where we/he are today. Just disappointing for him and his team and rugby in general really don't you think?

The only conscious decision we know was made, was Karmichael's to be in public. You can dress it up however you like, but there's no evidence of any wrongdoing.

It can be done Scott, but I don't know that I'd say it's easy Look at Ben Cousins

Easy enough to change your lifestyle and avoid putting yourself in those kinds of situations i.e. avoiding association with the illicit drug culture and the people in it. You can dress this up as a public liberty/rights issue but the reality is it just take a conscious decision at a certain point in your life. We have all been there and done it. it's one of the things you need to do if you are serious about being seen as a leader and a worthy person to represent your Family/State/or Country

Pls stop using facts

... If the charges are indeed dropped then authorities did not even have enough evidence to take the case to a trial, let alone get a conviction, and yet in your eyes the onus is still on Hunt to prove he is innocent? How is Hunt supposed to do that if the case is not even brought to trial? Thankfully we live in an Enlightened world where someone needs to be convicted of a crime before they are a criminal, despite what you say.

But you entirely miss the point, that you are considered innocent, because without being a witness to the crime, nobody has any idea of what happened, other than what the police charges claim. And as you have no knowledge of what actually occurred here the only facts you know are that Hunt was charged, and due to insufficient evidence, those charges were dropped, giving you no reason to believe any guilt.

Just the kind of response I expected DaveS and I know the law well enough believe me on that score. Yes cops can stuff up investigations and they can be corrupt as well as we all know. Some police regrettably are not saints by any stretch of the imagination. Juries can also be prejudicial in the defendants favour or against them for social/political reasons as we have seen on occasion both here and overseas in the history of our legal systems. However the "Innocent until proven guilty" is the letter of the governance of the law but has never meant that people never escape justice through lack of evidence and anyone who knows anything about the history of criminal justice will tell you that. Yes innocent because they haven't been found guilty in a court of law or they get off on a technicality as can happen rendering vital evidence inadmissible - so under the terms of legal governance they are innocent but the reality is they may be guilty as hell but the case cannot be proven and to argue otherwise is naive and ignorant of how the legal system works. So under the governance of the law if Hunts charges are dropped he is innocent yes. And you show you own ignorance of the money policy - in major legal cases that can take years the cost is significant to taxpayers and in such cases prosecutions are rarely moved upon unless they have a very good chance of winning or if a conviction sends a message to others. And no I would not be surprised and appalled at all on you last sentence as I have experienced it first hand at a high level several years ago in Sydney and yeah it stinks but that does not mean every police investigation is botched or crooked either. But we have different points of view and that is fine with me - not such a bad thing. As Byron said " When two side argue strongly, the truth always lies somewhere in the middle unless one side is lying or being deceived by others" To you TWAS, I thought you wished Hunt to play for the Reds again, so on that score my apologises.

Or they might just not have evidence to support their charge...

Interesting rumours that the Police have now advised they will not press charges - I wonder if Karmichael is up to his old tricks again? Could you think of a worse person to be stuck in the trenches with ?

Nah he's got a point. Karmichael Hunt should have been smart enough to know to never be in a public place. If he didn't leave his home he wouldn't have been charged!

'You get smarter, by not being charged, by not being in situations where illegal drugs are found on the ground beside you.' It is quite possible for anyone to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. You could sit down on a bench today, Taylorman, and someone could have dropped drugs next to you.