Dank claims injections were clean

Former Essendon fitness guru Steve Dank has denied giving Bombers players performance-enhancing drugs. Source: The Daily Telegraph

EXCLUSIVE: THE man at the centre of the Essendon drugs scandal, Stephen Dank, claims the injections he gave players last year were clean.

The club's former performance scientist yesterday emphatically rejected suggestions he had overseen the inappropriate use of supplements at the Bombers in 2012.

Asked directly by the Herald Sun yesterday: "Did you give the players banned/illegal/performance-enhancing drugs?"

Dank said: "No."

Herald Sun: "You didn't?"

Dank: "No."

But investigations are under way, as revealed in the Herald Sun yesterday, with the Australian Crime Commission heading a probe into sports, organised crime, Customs and performance-enhancing drugs.

It is understood the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, in conjunction with the AFL, will make a major announcement today about drugs in sport and its infiltration by organised criminals.

Former Bomber Mark McVeigh yesterday confirmed players were taken off-site for injections, but was adamant everything was above board.

Tony Doherty, a close friend of Dank, also supported him last night. Doherty, owner of Doherty's Gyms, said Dank would not have given AFL players banned substances.

"He would know the legalities of every substances," Doherty said. "When people hear the word injections they go into a frenzy."

Doherty was chatting with Bandido Toby Mitchell when the bikie enforcer was shot in an ambush in November 2011.

It has been confirmed footy's drugs probe was triggered on Monday when authorities contacted Essendon chiefs and warned them about serious investigations linked to the Bombers and other sporting codes.

Essendon immediately notified the AFL and asked the Australian Anti-Doping Authority to launch its own investigation into possible inappropriate use of supplements at the club in 2012.

The AFL is aware the sport is a target of criminal elements, and at least one Essendon figure has spoken to an organised crime investigative body about his knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs in football.

The Australian Federal Police is not involved, according to sources.

Dank is the central character in the scandal that threatens the existence of one of footy's most famous clubs.

Despite speculation that other clubs would emerge in the drugs scandal, no evidence has yet been found across the competition.

Coach James Hird yesterday maintained his club would be cleared of any wrongdoing.

Asked yesterday if he had confidence in high-performance manager Dean Robinson, who has been stood down, Hird said: "I have confidence in our processes at our footy club that we'd get it right. Our players are moving on, we're training hard, and we're looking forward to the start of the season.

"I'm sure it (the allegations) does have an effect (on them), but we're moving on," he said.

Mr Doherty said Dank would push the limits, but not cross them.

"As (Kyle) Reimers said, they were pretty close to the edge and Steve Dank would've been sailing along that edge gladly. But he wouldn't step over it, or risk the playing future of the players or the club," Mr Doherty said.

"He is smart enough to know exactly what he could and couldn't give to AFL players. He would be completely in touch with the WADA code, and would not put those players under risk," he said.

"I don't believe he would've been giving Essendon players illegal peptides."
 

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