Retired NRL star Sam Burgess has strongly denied allegations he was caught driving once again under the influence of drugs, after being pulled over by police this week.
More than a year after he was spared a conviction for driving with an illicit substance in his system (namely cocaine), reports emerged on Thursday that the 34-year-old failed a roadside drug test 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, where it’s alleged the roadside drug test came back with a positive result.
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But Burgess has refuted any allegation of drugs in his system in a statement released on Thursday night.
“An initial roadside drug test was taken, which showed positive to cocaine,” he said.
“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 waiting on results from a secondary drug test taken from Burgess before any charges are considered in relation to the latest traffic stop.
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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 law since retiring, pleading guilty last year to driving with an illicit substance present in his bloodstream after testing positive to traces of cocaine during a roadside stop in February.
For that offence, he was spared a conviction, fined and given a conditional release order.
It was during that court hearing Burgess’ “poor traffic record” was revealed, with a five-page document – dating back to 2010 – showing more than 30 speeding and mobile phone offences.
