Cronulla Sharks star Bronson Xerri breaks silence on failed drug test

Bronson Xerri and the Cronulla Sharks have spoken publicly for the first time since the star speedster was stood down after a failed drug test.

Two days before the NRL premiership resumes, a Cronulla Sharks star has been provisionally suspended for a failed drug test.

Cronulla Sharks star Bronson Xerri has been provisionally suspended from the NRL and is being investigated by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

On Tuesday, the NRL revealed Xerri failed a drug test in November 2019 and is facing a multi-year ban.

In his A-sample, Xeri tested positive for exogenous Testosterone, Androsterone, Etiocholanolone and 5b-androstane-3a,17b-diol, which are prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the NRL’s doping policy.

News Corp journalist David Riccio reported the 19-year-old has had his phone confiscated by ASADA.

Speaking for the first time since he stood down by the NRL, Xerri said he was “devastated” by the situation, but wished his teammates “all the best” for their round three fixture.

Xerri first released a statement to The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday afternoon — before Cronulla confirmed the star’s first words since his career was left hanging by a thread.
“I’m devastated but I’m bound by a process so I can’t talk at this stage,” Xerri said.

“I wish I was playing with the boys this weekend but I can’t. I wish them all the best.”
The Sharks’ statement stressed Xerri’s emotional statement is not a declaration of “guilt or wrongdoing”.
“As Previously outlined by the RLPA, the provisional suspension is not an admission of guilt or wrongdoing,” the club said in a brief statement. Bronson will have the opportunity to have his B-sample analysed.

“ASADA processes are strictly confidential under the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Act. There will be no further comment on the matter at this time.”
Questions were earlier raised over why it took ASADA more than six months to hand down its findings and suspend the Sharks star.

Cronulla's Bronson Xerri was going to turn heads with his speed this year.

Sports journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald Phil Lutton questioned if Xerri had of been named for round 1, would the NRL have been notified of the positive result. He wasn’t alone in raising the point behind the delay in the ban with former Sharks skipper Paul Gallen not only slamming the ban, but questioning the motives behind the organisation's move.

“I think it's pretty clear that I’m not a fan of ASADA due to what we went through all those years ago,” he told 2GB’s Wide World of Sports Radio.

“That’s all been dealt with now, but certain things I saw from ASADA back then which I've written in my book about, now after seeing this as well, you have to think whether ASADA are trying to create headlines.

“Are they really there for the good of the game? Are they really trying to catch people doing the wrong thing or are they just there to create headlines?”

Gallen couldn't understand why it had taken seven months for the results to be announced.

“When I found out it was taken in November and released today, you’ve got to ask questions why,” Gallen said on 2G.

“Don’t ASADA have a duty of care? Doesn’t the NRL have a duty of care towards the competition?

“[Bronson Xerri] well and truly could have played round two.

“Now if he went out on that field and hurt someone on that field because he was enhanced … does that person have the right to come back at ASADA or the NRL and sue them?”

Former CEO of ASADA Richard Ings provided clarity behind why the result may have taken so long to have been handed down.

“The sample was in late 2019. It is a complicated sample with a wide variety of banned substances detected and needing confirmation at a time when Christmas, fires, and then COVID were impacting,” Ings tweeted.

It isn't a crazy timeline. The sample was in late 2019. It is a complicated sample with a wide variety of banned substances detected and needing confirmation at a time when Christmas, fires, and then COVID were impacting.

— Richard Ings : 🇦🇺 ISOLATE NOW PLEASE 🇦🇺 (@ringsau) May 26, 2020

Riccio tweeted a response from the governing body over the six-month timeframe however they simply stated: “We can’t make any comment about the process”.

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.”

Bronson Xerri at a Cronulla Sharks training session.

The Sharks also released a statement on Tuesday, revealing Bronson had been stood down from training ahead of their round three game against the West Tigers on Sunday.

“The Sharks have today been made aware of the provisional suspension handed down to Bronson Xerri under the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy,” the statement read.

“Details of that provisional suspension and alleged breach of the anti-doping policy will be outlined in an NRL Media statement to be distributed today.

“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 Club has been in contact with Bronson and has offered him full welfare support as he deals with this situation.

“The Sharks will be making no further comment on the matter.”

Xerri made his debut for the Sharks in 2019, and scored 13 tries in 22 games last season. The star centre did not feature in the opening two rounds of the 2020 premiership due to injury, but was expected to make his return this weekend.