NRL star Bronson Xerri fought back tears as his coach called him on his girlfriend’s phone to tell him his career was hanging by a thread after he tested positive for steroids
- NRL superstar Bronson Xerri, 19, has been suspended over a failed drug test
- He fought back tears when called by coaches and club officials on Tuesday
- Xerri given provisional four year ban by Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority
- The announcement comes just days before the return of the 2020 season
NRL superstar Bronson Xerri fought back tears after he was told he had failed a drug test that has left his career in tatters.
The 19-year-old Cronulla Sharks speedster was stood down on Tuesday after returning a positive A-sample for a number of banned substances, including anabolic steroids.
Xerri was close to crying when he was contacted on his girlfriend Amy Curmi’s phone by Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta, head of football Phil Moss and head coach John Morris.
Cronulla Sharks rookie Bronson Xerri (pictured with girlfriend Amy Curmi) fought back tears after he was told he returned a positive A-sample for a number of banned substances, including anabolic steroids
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority agents arrived at Xerri’s parents’ home in the Sutherland Shire on Tuesday to issue him a four year provisional ban.
Xerri now faces an agonising wait as his B-sample undergoes analysis, The Daily Telegraph reported.
ASADA agents also confiscated the rising star’s mobile phone to analyze text messages and phone records.
The steroid scandal comes just days before the return of the 2020 season which sees Brisbane hosting Parramatta on Thursday.
Before the positive test, Xerri was expected to make an injury comeback against the Wests Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
The Cronulla Sharks released an official club statement after the news emerged.
‘Bronson has been stood down from training and playing responsibilities while the process runs its course, which under the policy includes the opportunity to have his B-sample analysed.,’ the statement read.
‘The club has been in contact with Bronson and has offered him full welfare support as he deals with this situation.’
According to the NRL, Xerri was tested by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority on 25 November in 2019.
Xerri was contacted on his girlfriend’s phone by Sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta, head of football Phil Moss and head coach John Morris who told him his career hung in the balance (pictured with girlfriend Amy Curmi)
‘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,’ an NRL spokesperson said.
‘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.’
Former Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen called into question the six-month delay in telling Xerri he’d returned a positive sample.
‘Personally, I’ve probably got more questions for ASADA than I do Bronson Xerri at the moment,’ Graham said on NRL 360.
‘I’m struggling to get my head around how they let a player who has provided a positive test potentially play for six months.
‘I’m dumbfounded for that. I’d have plenty of questions for ASADA.’
Gallen, who was at the Sharks during the 2011 peptides scandal and was one of 10 players stood down by ASADA in 2014, accused the body of chasing headlines.
Xerri was the first NRL player to be tested for COVID-19 after he woke up feeling ill on March 13.
Xerri, who has been playing rugby league since he was five, was pulled into coach John Morris’s office in April last year and was told he would make his debut for the Cronulla Sharks when they took on the Parramatta Eels.
Xerri is dating Amy Curmi, who currently works for the NRL as their Aboriginal Business Support Officer