Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone was caught trying to smuggle 48 vials of human growth hormone into Australia, a court heard today.

The illegal substance - used by cheating sportsmen around the world - was said to have been discovered in Stallone's luggage when he flew into Sydney to promote his latest boxing movie.

The 60-year-old actor did not appear in court today as he is currently in Thailand filming the fourth Rambo movie.

But his solicitor, Robert Todd, appeared on the Rocky star's behalf to tell a local magistrates' court that a plea would be entered next month.

However, he said, the movie star would still not be making a personal appearance.

The court - which was packed with reporters - heard that Stallone was handed a court attendance notice on 19 February, three days after he arrived in the country with the drug Jintropin, which allegedly contains the human growth hormone Somatropinin, in his luggage.

At the time of the find, Stallone was heading to the premiere of his new film, Rocky Balboa, but he was held by customs for several hours before being allowed to enter the country.

The maximum fine a local court can impose on Stallone is almost £9,000.

Magistrate David Heilpern adjourned the matter to 24 April.