The head of the Group 11 judiciary says he is serious about stamping out racial insults and serious breaches of the code of conduct after Dubbo CYMS' Brad Pickering was hit with a lengthy ban on Thursday night.
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The CYMS fullback was suspended following a severe contrary conduct charge after an alleged comment made in his side's round two win over the Narromine Jets.
No report was made post-game by the referees but after it was brought to Group 11's attention and the matter was investigated Pickering was charged.
He pleaded not guilty but on the evidence gathered he was found guilty by a panel of four judiciary members and suspended for 10 weeks.
However, that was reduced by 50 percent given his clean record in the past five years.
Despite that reduction, Pickering still strongly denies he made the comment and is believed to be looking into his avenues of appeal.
"There was a comment made to a player and he was found guilty," Group 11 judiciary chairman Mick Wilson said on Friday.
"It's a very serious matter and it's warning to everyone. No matter who you are or what club you're from this is what will happen.
"We don't want this in life in general. We don't want to see people insulted."
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Pickering, himself an Indigenous man, will currently miss this weekend's game against Forbes as well as further clashes with Parkes, Nyngan, Westside, and Wellington.
"He put in a defence and denied it and it was a very hard case because there was no (initial) evidence either way," Wilson added.
"But there was evidence provided (after investigation) and on that evidence we found him guilty.
"That (evidence) came from other players in the Narromine side who said they heard it.
"No referee or linesman made a report. They didn't hear it but in the part of the field it occurred the crowd was loud and that had to be taken into account."
Wilson admitted it was a severe sentence but it "sent a message" in the hope of stamping out something he said there is "too much of going on".
"If you say it, you'll cop it," Wilson added.
An official from Dubbo CYMS chose not to comment on the matter but said his club is strongly against any type of racism and supports Pickering.
A statement on a CYMS social media page was of a similar tone.
"The CYMS player in question strongly denies any misconduct. A position which the club supports," it read.
"The club would like to extend our support to the rival club and all those directly involved.
"Dubbo CYMS do not encourage or condone any type of racial discrimination or anti social behaviour. Moving forward (we) would like to strongly encourage all our players, committee and supporters to report any behaviour of this type, on or off the field to a senior club or Group 11 official."