NRL: Bronson Xerri’s B sample tests positive

Cronulla’s Bronson Xerri has moved a step closer to rugby league oblivion after confirmation his B sample has tested positive.

Cronulla’s Bronson Xerri will now front an anti-doping tribunal in a bid to reduce his ban

Bronson Xerri has one week to decide whether he wants to fight a four-year doping ban after the NRL on Tuesday confirmed his B sample had returned a positive test to testosterone, leaving his career hanging by the barest of threads.

Xerri, already serving a provisional four-year ban, now has a decision to make. He can accept the suspension and move on with life. Or he can fight for a reduction before a tribunal made up of a barrister or solicitor, a medical practitioner and a prominent citizen, which could be a former representative athlete who has succeeded in a career following retirement.

He has one week to notify the NRL of his plans. The suspended Cronulla centre has a mountain to climb to save his career. He originally failed a drug test conducted on November 25 last year, although the results only became public in late May.

Xerri has been silent ever since and he must now decide whether he is going to dig himself in for a fight. Ignorance is no excuse, something that is made clear in the NRL anti-doping code. “The onus is on the athlete or other person to check all substances and methods,” the code reads.

There are provisions to have his suspension reduced. He can try to prove he did not take the drugs intentionally.

“The term ‘intentional’ is meant to identify those athletes who cheat,” the code reads. “The term, therefore, requires that the athlete or other person engaged in conduct which he or she knew constituted an anti-doping rule violation or knew that there was a significant risk that the conduct might constitute or result in an anti-doping rule violation and manifestly disregarded that risk.”

Alternatively, he could have his ban reduced if he provides substantial assistance that leads to anti-doping or criminal charges being brought against someone else.

He can also seek a reduction if he can prove that there was no significant fault or negligence on his behalf, or that the test result came from a contaminated product.

What is clear is that Xerri has a fight on his hands if he is to play in the NRL again. He was considered one of the game’s brightest stars before The Australian revealed earlier this year that he had failed a drug test.

The news rocked the game and the club. Xerri was immediately given a provisional four-year ban, although he continues to be paid by the Sharks pending his appearance before an anti-doping tribunal to confirm his suspension.

The fact he remains on the payroll and takes up a roster spot has been a constant source of consternation for Cronulla and their chief executive Dino Mezzatesta, who has been lobbying both the NRL and Sports Integrity Australia for some clarity.

They are now one step closer to getting the resolution they desire. The NRL released a statement early on Tuesday revealing they had issued Xerri with a notice of alleged anti-doping rule violation, as per 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 statement said.

“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.”