Bronson Xerri: Cronulla Sharks centre faces four-year ban after B-sample result
The former High Court judge who imposed a four-year ban on former NRL stars Jarrod Mullen and Sandor Earl for anti-doping offences will preside over the fate of Bronson Xerri.
NRL
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The former High Court judge who imposed a four-year ban on Jarrod Mullen and Sandor Earl for anti-doping offences will preside over the fate of Bronson Xerri.
The Honourable Ian Callinan AC QC will chair the NRL Anti-Doping Tribunal which represents Xerri’s last chance to avoid a lengthy ban from all sports.
The crestfallen teenager has until next Tuesday to decide to defend himself at the tribunal, or plead guilty and accept his punishment, after the NRL confirmed his B-sample is positive to anabolic steroids.
One of the game’s brightest young stars, Xerri is facing a four-year ban after he was provisionally stood down in May after returning a positive result for various performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone.
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The NRL has told the Cronulla Sharks star he is within his rights to provide a formal submission and response to prove why he should escape being rubbed out of the game.
Callinan and a two-person panel will represent the NRL Anti-Doping Tribunal, if Xerri chooses to defend himself.
Callinan presided over the NRL Anti-Doping Tribunal that de-registered Earl in 2015 and Mullen in 2017 — both for four years — after the pair were found guilty of anti-doping breaches.
The long-serving judge also suspended former Roosters and Broncos prop Martin Kennedy for two years, and nine months, in 2016, for anti-doping violations.
In a statement on Tuesday, the NRL said: “The National Rugby League has today issued Cronulla Sharks player Bronson Xerri with a Notice of Alleged Anti-Doping Rule Violations under the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy.
“This follows the return of a positive sample and completion of the anti-doping process administered by Sport Integrity Australia.
“The Notice alleges that Mr Xerri breached the policy through the presence, use and possession of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy.
“Mr Xerri was provisionally suspended from participating in any WADA compliant sport, including rugby league, on 26 May 2020 following the return of a positive sample for Testosterone, Androsterone, Etiocholanolone and 5b-androstane-3a,17b-diol.
“Under the NRL Anti-Doping Policy, Mr Xerri now has the opportunity to respond to the matters raised in the Notice of Alleged Anti-Doping Rule Violations.
“The NRL will continue to make support services available to Mr Xerri.”
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Aside from testosterone, three other substances were found in Xerri’s system, including androsterone, etiocholanolone and 5b-androstane-3a,17b-diol – all of which are prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the NRL’s anti-doping policy.
Xerri was tested by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority on 25 November last year — with the result of his secondary B-sample also returning a positive reading.
The prolonged nature of the case had left the NRL and Xerri’s club Cronulla furious with the 10-month deliberation required to reach a final result.
Originally published as Bronson Xerri: Cronulla Sharks centre faces four-year ban after B-sample result