Cronulla Sharks player Bronson Xerri officially suspended for four years

Cronulla Sharks centre Bronson Xerri has officially been given a four-year suspension by the NRL Anti-Doping Tribunal.

Xerri will be unable to play in the NRL until at least his suspension expires on November 25, 2023, after he tested positive for the presence of exogenous Testosterone, and its metabolites Androsterone, Etiocholanolone and 5b-androstane-3a, 17b-diol.

The 20-year-old hasn't played in the NRL since the 2019 season following his positive test.

"The Tribunal found that Mr Xerri intentionally took testosterone in late 2019 knowing that the substance was either banned or that there was a serious risk that it was banned," the NRL said in a statement.

"The Tribunal also found that Mr Xerri's actions were, on his own evidence, at best grossly negligent. The sanction imposed is the presumptive 4-year ban for the use of serious performance enhancing substances."

Xerri during the 2019 NRL season famously emerged as one of the game's best up and coming outside backs after notching 13 tries from 22 appearances for the Sharks that year.

He opened up to Channel Nine recently about the matter, revealing his mental health had suffered while taking ownership of the "mistake" he made.

"This is all on myself and it's a mistake I did, not my family," he told Nine News.

"That was the hardest part, to tell my family and to let them go through what I was going through. It is what it is. My main goal is to repay them and make them proud again.

"I'd rather not speak about (the specifics). Obviously it was a very tough situation, my mental health was not good at the time.

"I'll tell my story (one day), it's not what everyone thinks it is. I made a mistake and now I have to pay the consequences."