Hunt remains in limbo despite dropped cocaine charge

BRISBANE, Australia — The career of Wallabies rugby star Karmichael Hunt remains in limbo despite a decision by prosecutors Monday to drop a charge of cocaine possession.

Hunt will remain absent from training with his Queensland Reds team, which begins its Super Rugby season on Friday. In a statement Australian Rugby said it had resumed an investigation into Hunt's conduct and he would continue a "voluntary stand-down" until all disciplinary matters were resolved.

Prosecutors on Monday decided not to proceed with a charge of cocaine possession against Hunt because of insufficient evidence. Police had alleged they found cocaine when they searched Hunt in the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Rally on Dec. 30.

Hunt was still fined $600 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court Monday for possession of the drug alprazolam, in the form of a tablet of Xanax, and for failing to obey a police instruction to provide fingerprints.

Rugby Australia could still conclude that Hunt has brought his sport into disrepute because this is his second brush with a drug conviction. In February, 2015, while playing for the Reds, he was arrested and charged with four counts of possessing cocaine for supply.

The New Zealand-born Hunt has played for Australia in rugby league and rugby union and also played Australian Rules football in the Australian Football League.

He made 11 test appearances for the Kangaroos in rugby league and has played six times for the Wallabies at center, wing and fullback.