A disgraced footballer who was once a rising star with the Socceroos has opened up about confronting his demons while on a four-year ban for using cocaine.  

Former Western Sydney Wanderers striker and young Socceroo Kerem Bulut, 28 was banned by footballing authorities in Turkey after taking cocaine in 2018. 

Two years into his ban Bulut opened up to The Sydney Morning Herald about his struggles, saying he is close to his breaking point. 








Disgraced footballer and former young Socceroo Kerem Bulut (pictured) has opened up about battling his demons as he completes a four-year ban from the sport for testing positive to cocaine


'I don't know if I can last any longer. I try not to break because if I break that will be it,' he said.

'You have to show face to your family, friends and the people who look at you. You let a lot of people down.

'My biggest enemy and my biggest problem is myself.'   

Bulut's four-year ban is the longest being served by an Australian athlete for a first-time recreational drug offence.






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He said he had finally become 'friends' with himself again after struggling with confidence issues for years.  

Now the once-gifted striker is turning his attention and focus toward returning to the sport. 

It's hoped a recent change in the World Anti-Doping Agency's penalties for cocaine could create a pathway for Bulut to cut 18 months off his ban. 

In late 2019 WADA agreed to a plan to reduce the penalties for recreational drug use, arguing they often have no performance enhancing effects. 

A statement from WADA said the focus should be on the health and tử cấm thành wellbeing of an athlete if they tested positive for recreational drug use, rather than a lengthy ban.

Bulut is now appealing the length of his ban and hopes he can return to the football field sooner rather than later. 








Bulut's (pictured right) four-year ban is the longest being served by an Australian athlete for a first-time recreational drug offence and after two year he said he is reaching his 'breaking' point


In an exclusive interview in 2019, Bulut told Daily Mail Australia he was 'trying to put everything behind me and move forward'. 

'(I'm) making a change on my life for better,' he said. 

Bulut has been scolded by police on several occasions, most significantly in 2010 and 2011 when he was dragged into a criminal case involving a gang known as MBM, the 'Muslim Brotherhood Militants', which he has long denied being a member of. 

Bulut represented Australia in the youth Socceroos, played overseas in the Czech Republic and Turkey, and signed with the Wanderers in 2015 - becoming an instant club legend when he scored two goals in his debut match.  

He did not renew his contract and tử cấm thành moved back to Turkey to play but his career was dealt a crippling blow last year when he was hit with a four year ban by the Turkish Football Federation for cocaine use. 








Bulut (pictured playing for the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2015) said he has turned his life around since his ban after admitting drugs 'destroyed' his career


'I am finished with drugs, it was a one-off thing, and it has destroyed my career,' Bulut told Fox Sports in 2019.    

He said he was even considering getting rid of his trademark tear-drop face tattoos: 'I am sick of the bad boy image'.   

During his time in exile the former 'bad boy' of the sport found a mentor in in an old friend, former Socceroo Ahmad Elrich.

Elrich spent four years in jail for gun possession and is using the experience and the pair's strong bond to help mentally and physically train Bulut for a potential return.

Bulut has reengaged with the community since working with Elrich and is now a mentor at his local Mosque.  

He said his goals were to return to football, settle down, start a family and become a role model for the next generation. 








Bulut (pictured with the Wanderers in 2016) told Fox Sports this year he is 'finished with drugs' after he was banned from the sport by his Turkish team for using cocaine 




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Former Young Socceroo Kerem Bulut fighting to overcome drug ban