The ABC have stood down veteran sports commentators David Morrow and Warren Ryan as it investigates an alleged racist remark made while calling an NRL match.
Ryan is said to have used the term "old darky" during coverage of last Friday's clash between the Sydney Roosters and Canterbury at ANZ Stadium.
"There's a line in a movie where the old darky says, someone says, 'quittin' time'," the 74-year-old premiership-winning coach reportedly said.
"He said, 'it's not quittin' time. I say quittin' time.' Then he yells out, 'quittin' time!'
"In other words you mustn't do that, that's our job."
The public broadcaster on Friday confirmed both Ryan and on-air partner Morrow had been suspended, with immediate effect, pending the completion of its investigation.
"Both have been asked to submit a formal response regarding the matter," an ABC representative said in a statement.
"Until the investigation is complete, no further comment will be made."
Morrow was suspended last year for broadcasting remarks deemed as racist during pre-match banter before a game between St George Illawarra and Manly.
The comments included a reference to the difficulty of seeing dark-skinned people at night.
The Grandstand veteran later apologised and said he was ashamed and embarrassed by the gaffe.
Richard Svenson and Matt Head will stand in for the pair in Friday night's Penrith-Parramatta match, with Brad Cooke and Steve Turn to call Saturday's Roosters-Canberra fixture.
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