Cronulla Sharks centre Bronson Xerri said he was "devastated" after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Xerri, 19, was provisionally suspended by the NRL on Tuesday after returning a positive A-sample for exogenous testosterone, androsterone, etiocholanolone and 5b-androstane-3a,17b-diol, having been tested by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) in November last year.
The teenager said he was shattered by his ban just days out from the Sharks resuming their season against Wests Tigers on Saturday.
"I'm devastated but I'm bound by the system so there is not much more I can say at this stage," Xerri said in a statement on Wednesday.
"There is a process in place that I am required to follow.
"I'm shattered I'm not playing with the boys this weekend and I wish them all the best for Saturday."
Having made his NRL debut last year, Xerri played 22 games and scored 13 tries for the Sharks in 2019.
