Banned Sharks centre Bronson Xerri will challenge the breach notice issued to him by the NRL at the league’s Anti-Doping Tribunal.
Xerri has been provisionally suspended from the NRL since May 26, after his A-sample from a November drug test came back as positive for anabolic steroids .
His B-sample has since also come back positive for banned substances Testosterone, Androsterone, Etiocholanolone and 5b-androstane-3a,17b-diol
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According to a report in the Daily Telegraph , Xerri’s hearing at the tribunal is expected to take place in six to eight weeks.
David Riccio reports Xerri may point to his recovery from a shoulder injury as a reason for using the banned substances, not a willingness to enhance his performance.
Xerri will be hoping to do enough to convince the tribunal to have the four-year ban reduced.
The NRL issued the young star with his breach notice earlier this month and released a statement on the same day.
“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,” the statement read.
“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.”
Xerri's case has caused a stir throughout the NRL community, attracting the attention of everyone from Sharks legends to Prime Minister Scott Morrison .
Bronson Xerri made his NRL debut for Cronulla in 2019 and has since played 22 games of first grade, scoring 13 tries.