MATHEW Stokes's 71-game career is teetering after he was arrested on Wednesday morning and charged with drug trafficking

MATHEW Stokes's 71-game career is teetering after he was arrested on Wednesday morning and charged with drug trafficking over the alleged purchase of one gram of cocaine.The World Anti-Doping Agency penalty for trafficking is a minimum ban of four years and can be a lifetime suspension. If Stokes is to play again he needs the more serious of the two charges reduced or dropped.Legal sources indicated yesterday that while there are provisions for the reduction of the WADA ban in its code - up to 75 per cent of a suspension can be removed, for example, if an athlete offers up information that leads to the conviction of others - there would be little scope for Stokes to appeal.The 25-year-old has told police that he purchased the gram of cocaine on January 19 for friends visiting from the Northern Territory. A conviction for possession, rather than trafficking - especially out of competition - could mean he escapes WADA punishment.A spokesman from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority told The Australian last night that the out-of-competition use or possession of stimulants is not prohibited under the World Anti-Doping Code.
Stokes travelled to Melbourne last night, ahead of today's legal meeting, with sources indicating that player and club were told on Wednesday to be confident that the trafficking charge could be dismissed. According to evidence Stokes gave to police, the cocaine was neither for his own use nor procured for profit.

Similarly, telephone intercepts which discovered Stokes arranging to purchase the drug, do not indicate that he intended to use the drug or sell it. He was asked by the AFL to take a urine test on Wednesday, which may or may not vindicate this claim.

Stokes was said by Geelong chief executive Brian Cook to be "shattered and really struggling". He was visited by teammates at his home in Highton, near Geelong, during the morning before leaving with teammate James Kelly for meetings with officials and the club's leadership group. He returned to Highton in the late afternoon before leaving for Melbourne, where he was expected to meet with his management.If Stokes does succeed in having the trafficking charge downgraded or dropped and appears before the Geelong Magistrates Court on March 12 to face a single charge of possession, he will still face a lengthy spell on the sidelines imposed by the reigning premiers and approved first by the AFL.Geelong expects to announce later today what disciplinary action it will take against Stokes, who has been stood down indefinitely.Following a lengthy meeting at Skilled Stadium yesterday between the players' leadership group and Stokes, the penalties recommended by the players were forwarded to chief executive Brian Cook and the football department.The Geelong board will consider the recommendations today before announcing what sanctions it will impose.Evidence presented to the court during his bail hearing on Wednesday afternoon indicated that when the substance of his text messages and calls to alleged drug dealer Matthew Randall were revealed to him, Stokes admitted purchasing the cocaine for $500.Admitting that he purchased it for his visitors meant that he soon became the first AFL footballer to be charged with trafficking drugs.Police said they had no evidence of Stokes using cocaine.