Sports scientist Stephen Dank, who is "at the centre" of the Australian Football League side Essendon supplements scandal, has given "sworn evidence that he provided players with a permitted Thymosin peptide and not the banned substance alleged by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority," according to Chip Le Grand of THE AUSTRALIAN. Dank, when "questioned at length by Australian Crime Commission investigators in May 2012, testified that he administered Essendon players with Thymomodulin, an immunity booster safely given to infants, and not Thymosin Beta 4, a substance banned in sport." The testimony, which Dank provided after "being advised that his evidence could not be used in any criminal or anti-doping proceedings against him," is the "only sworn evidence he has given about the substances he used at Essendon." ASADA is "in possession of other evidence -- an email sent by Essendon high performance coach Dean Robinson" in June '12 -- indicating that Thymomodulin was used at the club (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/22). The AAP reported the AFL Players' Association said that if the Essendon players involved in the "controversial supplements program have taken banned substances it is because they had been deceived." AFLPA acting CEO Ian Prendergast said that the 34 past and present Essendon players issued show-cause notices earlier this month "are baffled by ASADA's actions." The players claimed they have "fully co-operated with ASADA." Prendergast: "That's why I think they're finding it difficult to understand why they've now been issued with show-cause notices, particularly when we haven't been provided with any further evidence that may have been gathered since the interim report was released and they were told no cases would be brought at that point" (AAP, 6/22).
