Rugby stars accused of buying cocaine released from Paris jail
Former All Blacks rugby lock Ali Williams and ex-Australia back James O'Connor have been released from jail after they were arrested while allegedly buying cocaine during a night out in Paris.
The Paris prosecutor's office said Williams would be summoned at a later date for allegedly buying the equivalent of 2.4 grams of the drug.
O'Connor faces an undisclosed fine for alleged cocaine use, the office said, without giving further details.
The players were arrested near a Parisian nightclub at about 3am local time on Saturday and spent the following night behind bars.
Williams, who won the 2011 World Cup with New Zealand, currently plays for French club Racing 92.
Hours after the news broke, Racing 92 suspended Williams as a precautionary measure and also apologised to fans for the incident.
The club hinted in a statement that his suspension could be made permanent if Williams' guilt was established.
"If the investigation confirms (Williams') possession of cocaine and the transaction, it would not only be a crime under the law but also a serious mistake in view of our ethics," the club said.
O'Connor is contracted to another Top 14 club, Toulon.
The southern club's president Mourad Boudjellal told local media he would not rush into making a decision regarding his player's future.
The arrests came only days after another former All Black, Dan Carter, was forced to apologise for "a massive error of judgment" after he allegedly failed a drink-driving test in France.
Carter also plays for Racing 92, the defending French champions.
