Cronulla Sharks centre Bronson Xerri has been provisionally suspended under the NRL's anti-doping policy, after testing positive for banned substances.
The NRL says the 19-year-old returned positive for a range of steroids, including testosterone and androsterone, when he was tested by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) last November.
The substances are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the NRL's anti-doping policy. Xerri now has the opportunity to have his B-sample analysed, before any official ban is put in place.
The news comes a day after Xerri - already renowned for being one of the quickest players in the game - had set record times during sprint training at Sharks practice.
The State of Origin hopeful debuted for the Sharks in round four last year, scoring 13 tries in 22 matches, as Cronulla reached the qualifiying final.
He had a shoulder reconstruction in October and missed the first two rounds of the 2020 season.
"The Sharks have today been made aware of the provisional suspension handed down to Bronson Xerri under the NRL's Anti-Doping Policy," Cronulla says.
"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."
Xerri would have been a near certainty to start in the club's first game of the revised NRL against competition aganst the Wests Tigers on Saturday.
