Telstra has sidelined two Sydney Swans AFL stars from its promotional activities while a police investigation into a sexual assault allegation runs its course.

Organisers of the 2026 Sydney Marathon have also similarly removed Swans branding from one of their live sites amid the scandal. 

Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner, both Telstra ambassadors, are among five players who were on Wednesday stood down by the club for the remainder of the AFL season.

The club said the group breached its standards and behaviour code by staying out late, drinking, and bringing women back to the Pullman East Melbourne hotel following a game against Essendon at the MCG, just 200m down the road.

Riley Bice, Nick Blakey and James Jordan were the other three players sanctioned for the rest of the season. 

A Telstra spokesman said that Heeney and Warner would no longer appear in any of its advertising campaigns until the investigation concludes. 

'We are deeply concerned by what's been reported and respect the matter is currently being investigated by police,' he said.

'Players assisting police with their investigation who are also Telstra ambassadors are not participating in any ambassador activity while the investigation is ongoing.

The telco said it would 'review their ambassador arrangements once the investigation is complete' and that it would provide another update at that point.

The 2026 Sydney Marathon also took steps to distance itself from the club by changing the name of the Sydney Swans HQ live site in Moore Park. 

The site will now be called the 'SCG Block Party' instead of the 'Swans Block Party'. 

Its website also removed the words 'perfect for: diehard Sydney Swans supporters' from the site's description.

The decisions follow Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich, during the club's press conference on Wednesday, hitting out at a number of 'mistruths' that have been circulating.

'There are a lot of mistruths - all five players have not been formally interviewed by police, and no charges have been laid whatsoever' he said.

'There are issues related to the police matter that we can't talk about.'

Pavlich had earlier explained why the five players were stood down. 

'It was staying out late, it was drinking, it was to continue their night,' he said.

'It was bringing women back to the hotel. It was a long way short of what we expect of our players.

'And we're holding them to a really high standard. But they were well short of anywhere near that standard.'

Despite Telstra withdrawing Heeney and Warner from its promotional activities, supporters have chosen to rally behind the club and its handling of the situation.

Some fans contemplated boycotting the Swans' match against North Melbourne at the SCG on Sunday afternoon in the final round of the regular season by leaving after the women's match against Essendon.

'If anyone's bought tickets to this weekend's double header, I'd like to propose a walk out following the final siren of the women's game,' one said on Reddit.

'I think that a walkout is the least that fans can do as it sends a clear message to everyone across the sport,' a second said.

However, the mood changed drastically when the club announced it would stand down the players who it said had breached club standards.

'I've been on the fence last couple of days, but I'm more on the side of attending both games,' one said. 

'I don't think it's fair to punish the rest of the playing group that didn't do anything wrong and I feel assured of the strong stance the club has taken.'

'I will be attending to show support to the club for their strong and commendable stance, as well as to support the staff and players that have done nothing wrong,' a second said.

'They have done the right thing by standing them down and have earned our support,' a third said. 

With Sydney's second spot on the ladder sewn up following the win over the Bombers, the match against the Kangaroos will be a chance to test run the team without Heeney, Warner, Bice, Blakey and Jordan.

The finals series will then be underway by the first week of September.