Two days before the NRL premiership resumes, a Cronulla Sharks star has been provisionally suspended for a failed drug test.
On Tuesday, the NRL revealed Xerri failed a drug test in November 2019 and is facing a multi-year ban. News Corp journalist David Riccio reported the 19-year-old has had his phone confiscated by ASADA.
The NRL released a statement on Tuesday afternoon, confirming Xerri had been provisionally suspended from the competition. “The National Rugby League (NRL) has today provisionally suspended Cronulla Sharks player Bronson Xerri under the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy,” the statement read.
“The Provisional Suspension Notice asserts that Mr Xerri returned a positive A-sample for exogenous Testosterone, Androsterone, Etiocholanolone and 5b-androstane-3a,17b-diol which are prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy. “He was tested by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) on 25 November 2019.
“Mr Xerri is prohibited from participating in any WADA compliant sport, including rugby league, while the provisional suspension is in place. “Under the Anti-Doping Policy, Mr Xerri now has the opportunity to have his B-sample analysed.“The NRL has spoken with Mr Xerri and advised him of the support services available to him.”