Retired NRL star Sam Burgess has strongly denied allegations he was caught driving as soon as once more below the affect of cocaine, after being pulled over by police this week.
More than a yr after he was spared a conviction for driving with a bootleg substance in his system (specifically cocaine), stories emerged on Thursday that the 34-year-old failed a roadside drug take a look at when stopped by police in Kingsford on Wednesday.
It was revealed the ex-South Sydney premiership hero was taken to Maroubra Police Station after officers stopped Burgess’ BMW X5, the place it’s alleged the roadside drug take a look at got here again with a optimistic outcome.
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But Burgess has refuted any allegation of medicine in his system in a press release launched on Thursday night time.
“An initial roadside drug test was taken, which showed positive to cocaine,” he stated.
“After I was released from the police station, I immediately and voluntarily went to an independent, internationally accredited testing facility and undertook a urine test.
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“The urine sample returned a negative result to all illicit drugs.
“I deny any suggestion that I have drugs in my system.
“I have not consumed, obtained, or possessed any illicit drugs.
“I have made positive improvements to my life and to my driving since my full licence was returned to me following a 10-month loss of licence.
“I have undertaken road safety courses and since then I have not incurred any demerit points or any fines.
“I am clean and sober from drugs, living a happy, healthy and balanced life.”
According to 7NEWS, detectives are ready on outcomes from a secondary drug take a look at taken from Burgess earlier than any expenses are thought-about in relation to the newest site visitors cease.
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“To make matters worse … Burgess isn’t supposed to be driving at all,” reporter Chris Reason revealed.
“It’s currently suspended.”
It’s not Burgess’ first brush with the legislation since retiring, pleading responsible final yr to driving with a bootleg substance current in his bloodstream after testing optimistic to traces of cocaine throughout a roadside cease in February.
For that offence, he was spared a conviction, fined and given a conditional launch order.
It was throughout that court docket listening to Burgess’ “poor traffic record” was revealed, with a five-page doc – relationship again to 2010 – exhibiting greater than 30 rushing and cell phone offences.