JUST when you thought Ben Cousins' life could not get any more sensational …

Police dropped a drugs possession charge against the former Eagles skipper yesterday, admitting that the tranquilliser tablets found in Cousins' pockets during a police raid on Tuesday were not a prohibited substance under West Australian law.

Cousins' lawyer, Shane Brennan, is now recommending that the Brownlow medallist consider taking legal action against both the police force and West Coast, who sacked their star player on Wednesday.

"I will advise him to investigate all legal avenues open to him in pursuing his rights, both relating to the police and more importantly his commercial rights," he said last night.

The decision to abandon the possession case against Cousins came after Mr Brennan vowed to fight the charges on Thursday, labelling them baseless. It led to a crescendo of calls in Perth for Cousins to be reinstated by the club, as prominent former Eagle Karl Langdon criticised West Coast's handling of the matter.

An angry Mr Brennan said: "I find it extraordinary that on one day police can mount a major allegation against a sporting star and then the following morning call his lawyer and tell them it's all withdrawn."

It was Mr Brennan who released the news, telling Perth radio the alleged narcotic "isn't a prohibited substance". Police then convened a press conference where they admitted the tablets' active ingredient, diazepam, was prohibited only if carried in injectable liquid form.

Two other substances, found in Cousins' car and sent for testing were yesterday revealed to be the sexual dysfunction drug Viagra and a common anti-

depressant. Police also found a $20 note with traces of cocaine on it. They will test these traces to determine if they came from the same supplier as the cocaine found in the body of former Eagles champion Chris Mainwaring.

The other charge levelled against Cousins, failing to submit to a police drug test, has not been dropped.

That matter will be heard in late January and Cousins is expected to plead not guilty. He is the first person ever charged with the offence under new laws in WA. Mr Brennan told The Age he was confident that charge could also be defeated.

Yesterday's dramatic developments threw West Coast and the police into damage control and presented an unexpected dilemma for the AFL as questions emerged about the appropriateness of the police swoop on Cousins' car and the decision by the Eagles to sack him.

West Coast released a statement saying the withdrawal of the charge would not change the club's decision to axe Cousins.

A spokesman for the AFL said last night that the league shared that view.

The club said the sacking had been the result of "repeated and serious breaches" of Cousins' revised contract, signed by the player when he returned from drug rehabilitation in the US earlier this year. The club is also confident it is protected from any possible wrongful dismissal case brought by its former star.

Mr Brennan said yesterday that his client had been "understandably delighted" by the news of the dropped charge. Cousins is expected to fly back to the US over the weekend to continue his stay at the Malibu-based Summit rehabilitation centre.

The Eagles will not pay for the treatment but have promised their sacked star continuing access to the club's counselling and medical services when he returns.

Cousins' new tattoo, famously unveiled on Tuesday, reads "Such is life". In Melbourne, the appropriation of Ned Kelly has been mocked. In Perth, the comparison with a charismatic victim of police persecution is resonating. Talkback radio was buzzing with callers defending Cousins yesterday. The switchboard at Eagles headquarters was deluged with demands for his reinstatement.

Former teammate Karl Langdon expressed disappointment with his old club's handling of the situation. "You are innocent until proven guilty, mate," he said.

''We are not privy to what is in his contract conditions but you should only take action once charges are proven. Given the circumstances, they probably have acted much too quickly."

Langdon said he would love to see Cousins' sacking reversed. "Ben Cousins is a wonderful footballer … he's had issues, he's trying to address them. He's also had other very emotional times with the passing of Chris Mainwaring."

But any return would have to be allowed by the AFL and league chief Andrew Demetriou has made it clear he considers Cousins' career to be finished.

Mr Brennan said he had not discussed a return to playing with Cousins but made his personal view clear. "I'd love him to play football again," he said.

It also emerged yesterday that the club would not order its players to avoid socialising with Cousins when he returns from his US rehabilitation.

"We can't tell them who to spend their time with; they are grown men," said spokesman Gary Stocks. "We are hopeful that when Ben returns from America he will be back on the wagon."