BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Australian authoritieson Tuesday charged SylvesterStallone with attempting to bring 48 vials of a banned substance into the country.

Lawyers for Stallone, the 60-year-old star of the "Rocky" and "Rambo" movie franchises, represented him in a Sydney courtwhere he faces a charge of importing a muscle-building hormone named Jintropin..

Stallone and his entourage were stopped at Sydney's airport and detained for several hours on Feb. 16 while customs officials searched bags and confiscated items. His hotel room was searched and more items were confiscated three days later.

At the Sydney premier of his latest movie, "Rocky Balboa," on Feb. 17, Stallone downplayedthe airport incident, calling it a "misunderstanding."

Stallone and his group were allowed to leave Australia, and he was not required to appear in the Sydney Local Court for Tuesday's hearing.

Prosecution documents handed to the court said Stallone had marked "No" on a customs declaration card that asked if he was bringing into Australia restricted or prohibited goods "such as medicines, steroids, firearms, weapons, or any kind of illicit drugs."

But an X-ray of bags among his entourage prompted a search that revealed 48 vials of the human growth hormone product, the court heard.

The hormone is officially considered a performance-enhancing drug in Australia and it cannot be imported without a permit from the government.

The maximum penalty for bringing it into Australia illegally is a fine of 86,000 U.S. dollars and five years in prison, but the Local Court can only impose a fine of 17,000 dollars. Stallone is unlikely to face the maximum penalty.

The case was adjourned until April 24, when Stallone's lawyers will be asked to enter a plea on his behalf.

(Agencies)