The Cairns Post

COACH SUSPENDED FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER APPEAL DISMISSED

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FNQ Rugby League has made their “no tolerance” stance clear for anti-social and poor behaviour after suspending a Far North footy legend for two weeks.

Mareeba Gladiators A-grade coach and Northern Pride legend Chris Sheppard was banned from all rugby league activity for two weeks, from May 9, after an incident earlier this season.

It’s understood to have occurred while he was a trainer for Mareeba’s under-18s.

Sheppard was judged to have breached the Queensland Rugby League’s “Positive Environmen­t Program”, which was introduced to “remove anti-social and poor behaviour” from rugby league.

FNQRL chairman Rob White said the organisati­on fully supports the edict.

“FNQ Rugby League support that, as far as it relates coaches, players, team officials, spectators, individual­s and clubs are liable to suspension. In this case, fines and loss of points.

“I won’t comment on the specifics of the individual case other than to say Chris was suspended for two weeks.”

Sheppard was suspended for two weeks by the Northern Region Judiciary Review Committee, which he appealed.

That appeal went to the FNQ Disciplina­ry Tribunal on Friday but was dismissed, with the suspension upheld.

“FNQRL doesn’t support or condone anti-social behaviour at our games by anyone, and in this case it falls in line with the Positive Environmen­t Program.”

Simon Cockrem coached A-grade in Sheppard’s absence on Saturday.

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