Up to six Gold Coast Titans players involved in Queensland drug probe
Peter Badel, Jeremy Pierce and Chris Garry
The Courier-Mail
February 20, 2015 3:51PM
UP to six Titans players are embroiled in a Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission probe with Gold Coast duo Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling charged with allegedly supplying cocaine.
Falloon, 27, and Dowling, 24, were served with a notice to appear in court following a QCCC investigation focused on a cocaine trafficking syndicate in southeast Queensland.
A lawyer acting for both Falloon and Dowling confirmed to News Corp the pair have been charged with supplying cocaine and it is understood a number of other Titans teammates are in the crosshairs of the drugs probe that has rocked Australian sport.
The development comes after Queensland Reds Rugby union star Karmichael Hunt was also identified as having been served with a court appearance notice by the QCCC alleging he supplied cocaine.
The Titans have now been forced out of their Southport School training facility and are currently homeless.
The Titans decided it was in the school’s and their best interest to not train in the vicinity of children while two of their players are facing cocaine supply charges.
Titans chief executive Graham Annesley said the club had no contingency plans and would have to rush to find a new place to train.
The Titans had only been at the venue this pre-season after their lease ran out at the much-maligned Centre of Excellence.
Titans player of the year, Falloon and fringe back, Dowling have been stood down from the club pending their March 5 court date.
“Jamie Dowling and Beau Falloon have been stood down from all playing and training responsibilities pending their appearance in court on March 5,” Annesley said.
“In addition, the board and management of the club acknowledges that under these circumstances it is not appropriate for the team’s training facilities to be based in an education facility among impressionable young people.
“As such we will make immediate plans to relocate to an alternate venue.
“We unreservedly apologise to the school, our members, sponsors, corporate partners, and other stakeholders who have been let down or impacted by these unexpected and unacceptable developments.”
A Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission press release on Friday said: “A 27-year-old man from Mermaid Waters was served with a Notice to Appear in Court to face four counts of Supply Dangerous Drug contrary to section 6 of the Drugs Misuse Act 1986. He is expected to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on 5 March 2015.
“The CCC will allege that during an investigation focused on a cocaine trafficking syndicate operating in Southeast Queensland, these four individuals were identified contacting the syndicate and arranging for the supply of cocaine
“The CCC will allege the three men and one woman arranged for the supply of cocaine for personal use or to on-supply cocaine to friends and colleagues between June and December 2014.”
The NRL and the Gold Coast Titans are currently investigating whether other players at the club may be involved.
Falloon was named Titans player of the year last season, while Dowling has played 10 games for the Gold Coast since his NRL debut in 2012.
Meanwhile, former Brisbane CEO Bruno Cullen insists Hunt was not involved with drugs during his Broncos career.
Cullen was chief of the Broncos from 2003 until 2010, Hunt’s entire career at the club.
Cullen said there were no issues presented to him regarding Hunt that involved drugs.
“I’m totally shocked,” Cullen said.
“We had no indication of any of that activity when he was at the Broncos.
“Definitely not. There was no suggestion of anything to do with that (drugs).”
