Toughest time: Hazem El Masri, centre, with lawyers Bryan Wrench, left, and Chris Murphy at Bankstown Local Court. Credit:Nick Moir "Even though I've played one of the most violent sports in the world, I've never been a violent person so it was tough, you know, and it was tough on my family. "It was hard for my kids to have someone come up to them and say, 'Your father did this.' " El Masri, 39, is often described as "one of the real gentlemen of the code". While clearly relieved to share a celebratory Lebanese meal with his lawyers on Monday, he had no axe to grind and was simply thankful that life could get back on track. He recalled the frenzied cloud of suspicion when rape claims were made against some Bulldogs players in 2004.

Hazem El Masri after all charges against him were dropped. Credit:Nick Moir As a prominent Lebanese-Australian, he endured turbulent times after September 11, the Cronulla riots and the Skaf gang rapes. Such was his conduct throughout his career, he has travelled to schools as an NRL and Bulldogs ambassador since his retirement in 2009 to promote multiculturalism and respect. Yet when allegations surfaced last year, he was swiftly stood down from those duties. He was due to speak at his children's school but had to withdraw. About the same time, NSW Premier Mike Baird publicly criticised Roosters player Shaun Kenny-Dowall who was charged with domestic violence offences, even before the matter was heard in court.

After watching Kenny-Dowall successfully fight the allegations last month, El Masri questioned whether the court of public opinion had gone too far. "A lot of people branded me guilty without even a presumption of innocence beforehand," he said. "I wouldn't say it was disappointing but it's come to that age. Everyone wants to jump on that bandwagon ... but at the end of the day I knew what happened. "I knew I had the recording, I knew exactly what happened on that night so I just kept quiet and let the legal system take its course." El Masri divorced his wife of 13 years and mother of his four children, Arwa Abousamra, in 2014.

Months later, he met Douah El-Cherif, a receptionist at his dental surgery. He initially struck up a friendship, providing her with advice and assistance on some life issues. They clicked and were soon married. However, he said strains emerged within months. He said he called on three sheikhs to help resolve issues but the relationship crumbled around July last year. When it did, he allowed Ms El-Cherif to stay temporarily in one of his western Sydney properties. On October 19, he met her there to facilitate her moving out. An argument ensued and El Masri pulled out his phone, saying he would record it. Ms El-Cherif pulled out her phone too and called police but hung up. Police called her back and asked what her call was about. She initially said it was a hoax but, later that evening, went to Bankstown police station and made allegations he pushed her while trying to get his keys back, causing her to hit her head on the bed and sustain a scratch.

It's understood El Masri's secret recording refuted Ms El-Cherif's versions of events and a scratch on her face was assessed by doctors, who concluded it couldn't have been sustained by a fall on the bed. Police withdrew the charges on Monday, citing a lack of evidence. "Mr El Masri has been totally exonerated," his lawyer Chris Murphy said outside court. "And he hasn't been exonerated because somebody dropped off or something happened. The police have examined the evidence. There is overwhelming forensic evidence that shows his innocence." El Masri said NRL clubs were doing a good job of teaching players about respectful relationships and dealing with the limelight but it was sometimes "inevitable" that others would see opportunities to take advantage of them. "No matter how much you try to avoid it and stay away, trouble just happens to find you," he said. "These days it's easy for the press to just jump on that until you're able to clear your name."

Ms Abousamra came out in her ex-husband's defence when allegations surfaced in October and again last week, launching a scathing attack on the NRL and former boss Dave Smith for not sticking by El Masri. "If the NRL wanted to clean up its image, jumping to abandon one of its most loyal players who has served the organisation unwaveringly was the wrong move," she said. "The only thing that achieved is countless school kids missing out on having one of the NRL's most vibrant and inspiring facilitators at their school, including his own children. "Instead of waiting for the law to decide, the NRL's actions branded Hazem guilty in the court of public opinion. "If you can't rely on the people who have worked with you and know you for over 20 years then who can you rely on?"

On Monday, the Bulldogs said El Masri would immediately resume ambassador duties and the club had used "learnings gained from its White Ribbon Workplace Accreditation Program" to understand how it deals with such complex situations. The NRL, which employed El Masri as a casual ambassador, said it was "happy to talk with Hazem on how we can work together going forward". El Masri said he "can't wait to get back [out] there" and keep working with children, participating in charity events and visiting schools. Loading And, despite his ordeal, he said he did not want any victim to be discouraged from reporting violence.

with Michael Carayannis