The Queensland Reds and the Australian Rugby Union have suspended and fined Karmichael Hunt after he pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing cocaine in a Gold Coast court.

Hunt, who was fined $2500 in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday, has been suspended for six weeks and fined $30,000 by rugby officials.

It means Hunt, who has already missed two matches for the Reds since being embroiled in the cocaine saga, will be eligible for selection in the Reds’ round eight Super Rugby clash against the Rebels in Melbourne on April 3.

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Hunt will also have to undergo a drug treatment and rehabilitation program as mandated by the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) and Australian Rugby Union (ARU) as well as the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA).

The 28-year-old will also be placed on a monitored and targeted drug testing program.

The punishments come despite Hunt not being contracted with rugby union at the time of the four offences, committed in a period spanning September 1 to October 3 last year.

Hunt was exposed by a Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into a drug trafficking syndicate, which discovered he’d bought a total of 12.5g of cocaine from former professional rugby league player John Touma.

Hunt revealed his relief at the outcome outside court and in a statement released by the QRU admitted he had no-one to blame but himself.

“I made a terrible mistake last year and have no one but myself to blame for this situation,” he said.

“I am genuinely sorry for the distress I have caused.”

Hunt, who played in the Reds’ season opener against the Brumbies in Canberra, has already missed matches against the Western Force and Highlanders due to his pending court appearance.

His ban will include this weekend’s derby against the Waratahs, which Reds coach Richard Graham had already said he was unavailable for, as well as a bye in round six.

Hunt will have to train separately from the Reds until March 22 before returning to the first team fold from March 23 ahead of the clash with the Rebels.

ARU chief executive Bill Pulver and QRU chief executive Jim Carmichael both made note of their disappointment in Hunt’s actions but acknowledged he had shown considerable remorse.

Magistrate Catherine Pirie said Hunt’s remorse was evident through his decision to plead guilty at the first opportunity while a long list of references, including Brisbane Broncos NRL coach Wayne Bennett, had shown how out of character the behaviour had been.

She said those factors, and Hunt’s clean criminal record, had played a part in her sentence, which also excluded recording a conviction.

“Your offences will become well-known and be a disappointment to your legion of fans. Hopefully you will send a message that it is possible to learn from mistakes,” Magistrate Pirie told the court.

Barrister Alastair McDougall told the court his client had taken ownership of his problem, but would still face lifelong consequences.

“This was, in his own words, a misguided post-season celebration,” Mr McDougall said.

“His two young daughters, with a third on the way, must grow up knowing their father has broken the law.”

The same investigation which nabbed Hunt has also resulted in eight current or former Gold Coast Titans NRL players facing charges.

Two of those players, Beau Falloon and Jamie Dowling, also faced Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Both Falloon, 27, and Dowling, 24, have both had their matters adjourned to May 8 along with Falloon’s partner Elise Mary Abood, 22.

Several other footballers, including State of Origin stars Greg Bird and Dave Taylor, are expected to face court on Monday.

– AAP