Australian Football League To Hear Doping Allegations Against Stephen Dank

An Australian Football League tribunal will be convened to hear and determine "extensive doping allegations" against Stephen Dank, the sports scientist ­accused of orchestrating the systematic use of a banned peptide by Essendon footballers as part of the club’s "ill-fated season 2012 supplements regime," according to Chip Le Grand of THE AUSTRALIAN. Dank has "so far faced no sanction from the AFL or the National Rugby League, despite his central role in events that led to 12 current and former Cronulla players pleading guilty to taking banned peptides" and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority’s ongoing pursuit of 34 current and former Essendon players. If found guilty, he faces a life-time ban from professional sport in Australia. A tribunal chaired by retired Victorian County Court judge David Jones is expected to "start hearing the cases before the end of this year" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/14).