The Sydney Roosters have vowed to support Martin Kennedy after he was stood down by the NRL but insist they were unaware of the drug allegations made against him when he re-signed from Brisbane.

The NRL informed the Roosters on Friday that Kennedy should be stood down from club activities after he was issued with a Notice of Alleged Anti-Doping Rule Violations by ASADA on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old was issued with the infraction notice after his year-long fight over the legality of an ASADA show-cause notice was turned down by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

“He is suspended from all club activities but beyond that we will continue to provide individual assistance to Martin,” Roosters CEO Brian Canavan said.

“It’s a suspension at this stage so he’s still being paid until further notice from the NRL.”

Roosters coach Trent Robinson said he wasn’t upset that Kennedy kept quiet about his fight against his show cause notice when he returned after a nightmare 12-month spell with the Broncos last October.

“There are obviously reasons for that and they are very private,” Robinson said.

“The contract was still registered (by the NRL) so there was no issue at the time.

“Obviously there are procedures in place so there was no reason for him not to play. Obviously there is now so they’ve acted.

“But I am not worried about our procedures in October.”

Robinson said Kennedy was holding up well and that he’d made a point of keeping in contact with the front-rower to check on his welfare.

“I spoke to him on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,” he said.

“He understands the club’s point of view and that we are there for him personally.

“He’s been here at the club for a long time and has a lot of friends within the group.

“They’ve reached out and told him they’re still friends and want to make sure he’s OK.”

If found guilty, Kennedy faces a two-year ban from rugby league under the WADA and ASADA codes, to which the NRL is a signatory.

But Robinson said the Queenslander deserved the right to a fair trial and defended the club’s decision to stand by him.

“I haven’t gone into any details with him about the allegations, my contact has been purely about his welfare,” he said.

“Like in every walk of life he will get his hearing and until that point you have to look after the player.

“You can’t assume guilt until the tribunal has been heard.”