Rugby league star Tyrone May was sidelined today after two sex tapes were leaked online.
The videos, one eight seconds long and one 12 seconds, reportedly show the 20-year-old Penrith Panthers player alongside two women and another man.
May’s face is not visible in the footage taken nine months ago but it is understood that NRL investigators identified him from a distinctive tattoo on his arm.
After viewing the videos, Panthers management withdrew May from a trial match against the Parramatta Eels on Saturday afternoon.
Sex tape: The videos, one eight seconds long and one 12 seconds, reportedly show Penrith Panthers player Tyrone May alongside two women (one is pictured) and another man
Rugby league star Tyrone May (pictured playing against New Zealand Warriors in August) was sidelined today after two sex tapes were leaked online
After viewing the videos, Panthers management withdrew May (left) from a trial match against the Parramatta Eels on Saturday afternoon
May has since deactivated his social media accounts.
The Panthers said in a statement: ‘Penrith Panthers was made aware late Friday afternoon of two videos involving a Panthers player being circulated on social media.
‘The club promptly informed the NRL Integrity Unit and has been assisting with their enquiries over the last 24 hours.
‘Panthers wishes to unreservedly apologise to the club’s members, fans and sponsors for the hurt and embarrassment caused by the videos and subsequent media coverage.
‘Panthers players and staff are acutely aware of the responsibility they have to the club and to the game to maintain impeccable standards of behaviour.
‘The club does not hesitate to act by way of disciplinary action when these standards are not met.
‘Panthers is working closely with the NRL Integrity Unit to expedite the investigation and achieve a final outcome as soon as possible.’
There is no suggestion May committed any crimes.
It comes after a series of scandals has rocked the rugby league off season.
In January, a sex tape featuring Canterbury Bulldogs recruit Dylan Napa was leaked on social media, before going viral.
After viewing the videos, Panthers bosses withdrew May (pictured) from a trial match against Parramatta Eels on Saturday afternoon
In January, a sex tape featuring Canterbury Bulldogs recruit Dylan Napa (pictured) was leaked on social media
The footage was taken as long as five years ago when Napa was a member of the Sydney Roosters.
In the two videos, Napa is filmed having intercourse with a woman and frequently grinning or gesturing to the camera.
In the first, he leans in to the woman and refers to himself as ‘Big Papi’.
Napa eventually attempted to explain the tapes’ existence, adding ‘dark days’ followed their release.
Other summer scandals have embroiled Jarryd Hayne, Ben Barba and Jack De Belin, further deepening the sport’s image problem and driving away sponsors.
De Belin is charged with aggravated sexual assault on a teenage girl in a Wollongong unit in December.
He allegedly repeatedly raped her while his friend Callan Sinclair, 21, watched on, causing her injuries to her legs, neck, lower abdomen and shoulder.
Meanwhile, Hayne is accused of continuing to have sex with a woman after she ‘withdrew consent’, and biting her on the genitals so hard she needed surgery.
Jack De Belin (pictured with his partner Alyce Taylor) was stood down as he fights a rape charge against him
Ben Barba was also handed a life ban after allegedly punching his girlfriend in the head at a Townsville casino in January
Hayne allegedly met the 26-year-old woman on social media and took a taxi to the house she shared with her mother in Newcastle.
He then took another cab back to Sydney to drink with another NRL player until 3am. Taxis cost about $435 for that trip.
Hayne has denied any wrongdoing.
Ben Barba was handed a life ban after allegedly punching his girlfriend in the head at a Townsville casino in January.
He was sacked by North Queensland after the club viewed CCTV of the incident and is now a metalworker in Mackay.
Barba’s ban followed a history of off-field incidents including a drunken car park brawl with teammates and a positive drug test.