Australian rugby union player Karmichael Hunt is once again in trouble with the law after being charged with drug possession.
The 31-year-old Queensland Reds star was arrested and charged with two counts of drug possession after being searched by police at Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am on Saturday.
Hunt was issued with a notice to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 29 January.
Rugby Australia said it was aware of the incident and had begun its own investigation.
“Rugby Australia takes all matters relating to the off-field behaviour of its players seriously and has commenced an investigation into the incident in conjunction with the Queensland Rugby Union.
It’s not the first time the former NRL and AFL player has been in trouble for drug offences, after he was fined in March 2015 after pleading guilty to four counts of possessing cocaine.
Hunt was one of several professional footballers to be caught up in a Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into a cocaine trafficking ring operating in the state’s southeast.
The investigation also led to several Gold Coast Titans players being charged.
Hunt, who made his debut for the Wallabies this year and has played six times for the national team, was also fined $30,000 and suspended for six weeks by the Australian Rugby Union after his 2015 incident.
A 32-year-old man who was with Hunt at the time has also been issued with a notice to appear.